Poppy Pomfrey, the Hogwarts' Matron, is sitting now in the middle of a clearing. The sun is warm and feels good against her skin. Also, the freedom feels good, very good. Becuase, it's over now – the Great War, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is dead. Dead for sure. She leans back on the ground, she can feel the leaves of grass tickling the bare skin of her arms. Because now she doesn't wear her matron uniform, but a simple shirt with a skirt.
For a moment or so she closes her eyes. She is simply lying there and listening to the sounds of nature. How lovely, she thinks, feeling this peace and safety. Just a year ago she would not have been able to do this. But now everything is different, a new era is coming, and she is happy to be there, to see how the world is being rebuilt.
But this lovely moment can't last for much more, she knows that, and she even wonders how has she managed to hold back the dark thoughts. Because, even though it is a lovely day indeed, and she lives, many witches and wizards didn't manage to survive. And not just them, but the Muggles too. A sudden terror fills her mind and she wants to get rid of it, she must get on with her life. Everybody has lost someone, everyone has their own demons, but they must go on, and get over the past. Just like she. Because a whole new world is coming. And she suddenly thinks of Shakespeare. Didn't he write something about getting over the past and driving into the new world? Oh yes, The Tempest.
I should read some Shakespeare again, she thinks. Yes, she used to adore his plays, Antony and Cleopatra was her favorite one. Amazing, she continues to wander, such a mind he had. But then her thoughts were stopped by a strange noise near to her. Footsteps. But who would be wandering around here? It's still summer, and only a few teachers have stayed. Most of them were happy to leave and have a little vacation somewhere, where they can forget for some time the events of the War.
She believed it was her secret place, but obviously, it isn't that secret if someone is coming there.
At first she feels a kind of fear, she reaches for her wand, but then remembers that it's over. It's over for sure. She has seen The Boy, and that is the proof for that. Maybe it's Hagrid. She tries to guess because it would be logical. Through for her long walks around Hogwarts, she sometimes meets with him accidentally. Sometimes they even have tea together.
Now the footsteps are closer, and then from behind, a dark figure steps out. Severus Snape. Still so young, and still full of pain. She knows that most of the people in Hogwarts have a strong dislike for him, for him who 1 or 2 years ago was a Death Eater himself. And now here he is. Standing in his dark robes – even in summer he wouldn't get rid of them – and looking at her with his usual cold expression. She knows very well he is having a hard time, but so everyone else does.
"Mr. Snape," she greets him, not sure how to call him. The other staff members are calling themselves by their first name, but Snape hasn't given her the access yet to call him "Severus".
He slightly nods, but do not change the expression on his face. Even when he looks at her he seems so far away. He is starting to continue his walk, but a sudden idea comes in Poppy's mind and so she stops him.
"Would you join me? I even have some food with me, if you're hungry." She gestures to the basket near to her.
Then without a word, he sits down but keeping his distance from her. After a momentary silence, she starts to speak.
"How is teaching? Do you like that? I've heard the Slytherins like you more than old Horace Slughorn."
Without looking up he says "Yeah", but nothing more. He keeps looking at something in the distance, and Poppy wonders if he has forgotten her presence. He seems so lost. Again she tries to engage him in some conversation. She feels sorry for him, even though she is aware of his dark past.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" He looks at her as she has said something stupid, his dark eyes are full of some mixtured expression that Poppy doesn't understand. "I mean the scenery,", she adds then. And in hope that she can make him get rid of some of his cold distance, or at least make him understand that he is not alone, she continues her little chit-chat. "It's my favorite spot, you know, I often come here when I want to feel a little peace and get away from everything." He doesn't react, instead, he looks down on the ground and starts toying with the grass. For a moment Poppy thinks she should leave him, that she is no use here and - . But then he speaks in a rather low tone.
"You know, it's funny you say that because it's also my favorite place. I like to come here to clear my head. And I agree, the sight is also rather lovely."
She is astonished. He speaks. To her. She doesn't want to ruin it, so she stays silent, and only nods in agreement. There are so many questions she wants to ask him, but it's not the time for that kind of questions. He speaks to her, that's good, but she shouldn't push him. So she leans back, and with an arm under her head, she looks up to the sky. She tries to focus on the beautiful color of the sky and nothing more. She closes her eyes. After some moments she hears as Severus does the same.
He must hate me, she thinks, he has come here to be alone and here I'm, taking away his peace.
But she is wrong because when she laid down and closed her eyes, she didn't see the way Severus Snape looked at her. With something, one might call admiration. He's glad that he is not alone. At least not at the moment. Everyone loathes him, he thinks, and he is nearly right about that. Albus Dumbledore is kind to him, he is so much like the father he never had. Because he declines to think of Tobias Snape as a father. He is a tyrant and nothing more, and he is glad he hasn't seen him ever since…
But the kids, his Slytherins seem to like him too, and that gives him strength. "It'll take time." Dumbledore has said. And he'll be patient, he'll wait. But what for?
The other teachers and staff members seem to ignore him most of the time and speak with him as much as they have to. Even Minerva McGonagall, the Deputy, is acting kind of awkwardly towards him. He sees that Minerva is trying to be at least polite because she is sure that if Dumbledore has his faint in him, so should she, but it's not easy for her. He has heard that his husband was killed by a Death Eaters. And he was a Death Eater. But she is acting the best she can, and he appreciates that.
And now Poppy Pomfrey is talking with him, not because she has to, but because she wants to. And he doesn't know what to do with that. He has got so used to keeping his distance from others that he is not sure whether he is able to engage in any normal relationship with humans.
But he doesn't want to think of that kind of things now. He only wants to enjoy this moment, the warmth of the sunshine on his face and the presence of the witch next to him. He slightly moves closer to her, and closes his eyes…
When he next opens his eyes the first thing he sees is Poppy's face. He feels some cold sweat on his face. Poppy's eyes are full of worry. Her hand is on his face, caressing his cheek, gently, as she has done many times before in the infirmary. Her touch on his skin feels good, too good that he has to stop it. He sits up.
"What's the matter?"
"You were… Sleeping… I didn't want to, but – "
He tries to hide his expression, he puts on his mask again.
"I know, it always happens when I don't take the Dreamless Sleep potion. Sorry…" But Poppy doesn't let him finish whatever he wanted to say.
"It's all right, it's all right," she whispers. And then she places her feminine little hand again on Severus's check. And this time he leans into the touch. He needs it, he needs the touch of another human being. He needs and she is willing to give. He covers her hand with his, and guides her lovely hand to his lips and puts a small kiss on her palm, enjoying the softness against his lips.
Then very suddenly he stands up. "I have to go now," he says and he does so. Poppy remains sitting on the ground. She'll have to go too, it's getting late. But now she is watching the back of Severus Snape as he is getting away. She doesn't know what to think about this still so young man, but she knows that she wants to help him if she can. They all have to help each other.