Disclaimer: the Harry Potter characters and world belong to JK Rowling, and other copyright holders. This story is a bit of fannish silliness and no copyright breaches are intended.

A Princely Plan - story 1 Survival

Part 2: Reawakening
by Kazza

Sicilian village life had not change fundamentally in centuries, which suited perfectly the retired inhabitants of Baldoro's Retirement Village that sat on the outskirts of the wizarding town of Kreaki. The elderly witches and wizards at Baldoro's were quite content to be as old fashioned as they wished and still be more modern than the picturesque medieval village. And if the inhabitants, whom Medusa called inmates, wanted a bit more excitement they could floo to the wizarding square in Taormina or the magical quarter of Palermo.

The brochures advertising Baldoro's Retirement Village spoke of beautiful mountain views, quiet streets, delicious Mediterranean food, and secure anti-muggle charms. Charms which, according to the brochure, protect the mature witch and wizard from interruptions to their idyllic retirement by convincing muggles that Kreaki is a collection of partially ruined, modern, very boring and completely unappealing barns. Of course, magical visitors saw Kreaki in all its honey-walled and grey-brown roofed glory.

On this particular morning, Signora Valda Malacuso was waking along one of the picture-postcard streets of Kreaki, a basket of mediwitch supplies floating sedately behind her. It was unusual for Signora Malacuso to make a house call but circumstances had forced her hand, and feet, onto this path.

oooooo

The first sense Severus became aware of was smell. The smell of potions, old books, cotton sheets, and the scent of lavender and belladonna flower perfume.

Something seemed out of place with those smells being at Hogwarts but Severus's brain wasn't up to considering anything more than returning to sleep.

oooooo

Medusa was disconcerted and, though she'd never admit it openly, distressed by her great-grandson's silent form. The Prince men had been notorious for their verbal acuity - their family crest was an acid-spitting wyvern for a reason - and Severus's silence was eating into the old lady.

Medusa did not like seeing Severus looking so startling fragile when he was inactive. He reminded her of a finely built bird of prey; injured and slowly starving of energy. It was obvious to the old witch that the years of mourning, guilt, obsession and duplicity Severus had endured had ravaged his health. Looking down on her great-grandson, Medusa made a promise to herself. She would get him back to health and enjoying life, even if she had to kill him (again) in the process.

The door to Medusa's reading room, which was now Severus's bedroom, opened to admit Signora Malacuso.

"Watching him will not make him wake." Valda Malacuso's tone was as cold as the late spring weather was warm.

"Do come in." Medusa shot a glance at Signora Malacuso, who was already in the room.

"Why is he so still?" Medusa demanded, her tone reminiscent of a medieval duchess to an incompetent serf.

"He was crushed, poisoned, mauled and dead. If not for magic he would be dead." Malacuso's tone was as aggressive as Medusa's was imperious. "He should be in the magical hospital in Palermo. Those injuries require more than 3 days to heal. We do not have the resources to treat him, nor the room!"

Medusa sneered down at the retirement village's chief mediwitch. "You may wish to waste the talents of your mediwizard on handing out headache potions and a sympathetic ear to the bored but healthy inmates here. I would rather see him using his skills well." Medusa smiled evilly, "Or did you hire someone unqualified?"

"Mediwizard Laurencetti is highly qualified."

"Exactly." Medusa stared down at Severus. "So," she continued quietly, "what should I do to hasten his recovery?"

"Nothing," Malacuso replied, "Laurencetti has already told me that he just needs rest and time."

"Ah yes, that old cliche. Time and a peaceful place to rest." Medusa paused and looked around her reading room, then added, "Perhaps somewhere retiring in a peaceful village. Where would I find somewhere like that?"

Medusa gave the mediwitch her patented 'batty old lady' look and waited gleefully for the explosion. Signora Malacuso didn't disappoint.

"It's all a plot, isn't it. You horrible old woman. You want to break all the rules and run the village your way. Well, you're not in charge, I am." The mediwitch stormed out of the cottage, past Ilario Laurencetti who was just entering the cottage.

"Strange," muttered Medusa, "I thought the manager was in charge."

Medusa smirked at the mediwitch's behaviour as Valda slammed the cottage's front door.

"That was very naughty of you Signora." Ilario said quietly.

Medusa drew back and was about to launch a cutting comment at Ilario when he added, "Both of you can be a little childish at times." Ilario smiled his gentle, genuine smile and walked towards the bed. "He has not moved?"

"No."

"I shall turn him to stop pressure sores."

Medusa watched as Ilario tended to Severus's medical needs. Both men looked out of place in Medusa's reading room. The hospital style bed, transfigured from an old reading chair, sat incongruously amongst Medusa's books and knickknacks.

Medusa sighed melodramatically and left the room, leaving both men exactly where she wanted them to be.

"I do hope," Ilario said to his unconscious patient, "that I am never in a duel with those two ladies."

oooooo

The second thing Severus was aware of was sound; the slow tock, tock, tock that only a large clock could make, the murmur of conversation and the sound of his own breathing.

'That's promising,' thought Severus. 'No brimstone or screaming, and I appear to be breathing'

oooooo

Medusa had experienced a number of disappointments. Her first disappointment had been Signora Malacuso's decision not to help her great-grandson. Valda Malacuso had left Ilario and Medusa with no doubt about how much support the mediwizard would not get from his boss.

Ilario Laurencetti was qualified but as the Assistant Mediwizard at Baldoro's Retirement Village he was generally assigned to the lower care patients. That allowed Signora Malacuso, and her trainee assistant, to deal with the high-care patients and those with more complex conditions. While Healer Laurencetti was perfectly able to aid Severus, it was the mediwitch's disregard for Severus that had rattled Medusa who had expected to get her own way in the matter.

Medusa's second disappointment was the lack of speed of Severus's recovery.

Severus's physical needs had been taken care of and his wounds treated but potions and charms could only heal to a point. Only time would heal the deep muscle bruising to Snape's chest and throat. While the potential nerve and brain damage from the attack and its aftermath could only be identified, if it existed, and understood when the patient awoke. And only time would allow him to wake.
The third disappointment was a blow to Medusa's dreams.

Temporary death had major consequences for wizards. Only that morning, Medusa had received a note from Gringotts advising her that as Severus's sole surviving relative she was his heir. The contents of Headmaster Snape's vault had been transferred to Medusa's vault with unseemly haste for the usually-ponderous goblins. It appeared that they wanted to deal with the infamous headmaster's estate as quickly as possible.

Medusa had transferred her vault to the Sicilian branch of Gringotts when she had moved to Kreaki. She had soon discovered that the goblins at Palermo's Gringotts branch were more secretive than either the London or Zurich goblins.

The Goblins letter had upset Medusa intensely. Technically she had no remaining heirs and if Severus were to die she would have no way to continue the Prince bloodline. Medusa knew she in danger of being forgotten by history and allowing her late husband's family line to expire.

The old witch did not like disappointments and many years ago she had decided that the best way to deal with disappointments was to have a Plan to deal with them. And Medusa's plans were always direct.

oooooo

The third of Severus's senses to return was touch. The feel of crisp cotton sheets on his hands and feet, the softer feel of his nightshirt against his chest, the even softer sensation of the pillow and mattress beneath him, and a harsh ache in his chest.

'I must be in heaven,' though Severus as he moved slightly in the soft cottony cocoon of the bed. However, his heavenly daydreams were interrupted by the sound of footsteps and a stronger scent of lavender and belladonna flowers.

The headmaster was trying to place the scent when something long and thin rapped across his chest.

"I know you're awake, boy!" screamed a familiar voice.

'Oh $%*(!# it!' thought Severus. 'I've gone from heaven to hell'

"Signora Prince!" The sound of a young man speaking Italian erupted into Severus's hearing, "You must Not hit someone who was recently Mostly Dead."

Severus heard another set of footsteps approach the bed and his hand was lifted by the wrist.

"His pulse is strong. He will awaken soon," said the Italian speaking man. "If he wishes to wake, after your behaviour."

'No,' thought Severus, 'I believe I will stay safely asleep.' Unfortunately, someone else had a different opinion.

"Augmenti!"

Severus spluttered awake as Medusa's wand poured water onto his face.

"Ah, Severus. What a surprise. You woke up all by yourself." Medusa smiled wickedly at her great-grandson.

Severus was saved replying by the ranting of a damp and very annoyed mediwizard.

End of Chapter 2

(updated 6 November 2009)