*~*Chapter Two*~*


Back at Hogwarts, Poppy was with Fred and George and the rest of the Weasleys, Hermione, Harry, Neville, and Luna. They had all decided to get together and work together while they attempted to rebuild the school. McGonagall was walking around shouting orders about which spells to use and which person needed to use that spell.

St. Mungo's Healers were walking around Healing people with minor injuries to the best of their abilities and taking certain people to the hospital. Poppy knew that Marzia went to the hospital, but she didn't really know why. Her cousin just came up to them, reprimanded her then said she had to go to St. Mungo's, then Disapparated. She was left slightly confused and suspicious, but couldn't do much about it for having to stay at the school.

Fred and George kept cracking jokes every so often about Voldemort's weird smile or about how Bellatrix looked right before their mother went "All badass and killed her," as they liked to put it.

"Well, I think I should go to St. Mungo's. Marzia said she was going there and all, so I should probably be going," Poppy said. Standing up from where she had been sitting on the dirty and somewhat blood stained ground.

"Did she say what for?" Ginny inquired.

"Nope. But I should probably go and see what all the hubbub is about."

Harry stood up. "Can we go to?" He asked.

"Sure," Poppy replied. They all stood up and laid their hands on her outstretched arms, then went off to St. Mungo's.


When they arrived they got all of their things sorted out at the front desk and learned that Severus Snape was in the Intensive Care Unit for Animal Injuries. Figuring that that was where Marzia would be, they headed off to the unit. They found her lying asleep on a row of grey, uncomfortable-looking, armless hospital chairs. Her mouth was slightly open, and she was snoring.

Fred and George snorted with laughter after a loud snore escaped her, and it woke her up. She groggily sat up, her hair a complete mess, and looked around for the noise that had woken her. Poppy, Ginny, and Hermione sat on the three other chairs that Marzia had been occupying in her sleep.

Hermione was the first one to speak. "So, how's Professor Snape? Have they told you anything yet?" The four girls, plus Harry and Ron, looked at her seriously, while Luna and Neville were having some strange conversation about some strange creature that Luna's father had just discovered in their basement, and Fred and George were talking about new ideas for their joke shop.

"No, I haven't heard anything other than that he may be asleep for quite some time, and that if I hadn't found him when I did it probably would have been too late." When this information hit the Trio's ears, deep frowns formed, foreheads were creased, and eyebrows were furrowed. Harry muttered something about how much of a stupid bastard he was that he didn't check for any vital signs. Ginny went over to him and told him it wasn't his fault, and that, "Even Snape thought he was going to die in a matter of minutes."

"She has a point, Harry," said Poppy. Back at Hogwarts she had been told by Harry about Snape, but Marzia knew nothing of what Snape had done, or why he had done it. "Hey, Marzia?" Her cousin's head shot up in her direction.

Marzia's brow furrowed more, if possible, and Poppy noticed how much younger she looked than what she actually was. She was twenty-one, but looked like she was seventeen, or just slightly younger. "Yeah?"

"Why did you save Professor Snape? Weren't you pissed at him for killing Dumbledore," Harry flinched, "and for doing all sorts of other cruel things to the kids still at Hogwarts?" Poppy asked.

Marzia relaxed a little, thinking that it was going to be a question about all the deaths that had happened. "Of course I was angry. It's just, when I found him lying there, it didn't feel right to just leave him. He was actually like the dad I never got to have when I was growing up."

"Maybe you should tell her the story, Harry. About why Professor Snape killed Dumbledore," again, Harry flinched, "and why he was so mean to you," Luna said, using a tone so serious that Hermione looked at her like she had grown two heads.

Harry gave a very weak smile, thinking about the memories his former professor had given him, and told the story to them all. Hermione had started tearing up in parts; Fred and George actually stopped talking about their franchise; Ron still had the worried look on his face; Luna stared off into space, regaining her "normal" composure once more; Ginny sat rigid in the chair next to Harry; Neville was the same as Ginny, just on the other side of the room; and Poppy and Marzia just sat stock-still, listening to every word Harry said with the utmost interest. In the end, Marzia let out a small whimper.

"Don't take this the wrong way, Harry," started Marzia, "but you're dad, Remus, and Sirius were all asses."

Harry gave her a forced smile in return, "I know. My dad especially deserved a Bludger to the head. He changed eventually though." His smile turned from forced to genuine. Marzia just smiled back at him.

They sat there for a while after that, just talking about their days at Hogwarts, or just about completely random things that Luna would come up with. After about an hour or two, one of the Head Healers came out. "Who are you all here for?" He asked.

They all stopped talking and looked around, waiting for someone to say who they were there for. "Well?" prompted the Healer.

"Severus Snape," said Ginny. He nodded, then walked back down the corridor. They all shared questioning looks. After a minute or so, he came back with a large file and a clipboard.

"I am Healer Thomas J. Ferguson, and I am looking after Severus Snape. Before I continue, I am going to ask you all to hold your tongues until I am finished. Is this understood?" He paused, and the group nodded their heads simultaneously. He continued, "Severus Snape, as you know, is in intensive care. The snake that bit him had very powerful venom, but somehow, mostly by a tonic of some sort taken over a certain amount of time, Mr. Snape seemed to have built up a sort of immunity to it. If he hadn't been found sooner, though, the venom would have gotten the better of him, and slowly killed him." Fred, George, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Poppy all looked at Marzia, while the other just looked at the Healer. Marzia's attention was completely on the Healer, not paying attention to anything going on around her.

"Mr. Snape may suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for awhile, but he should be fine. As of this moment, he is still under and may possibly be in a coma. When, and if, he does wake up, who do you all think she be the one he should wake up to?" The group looked around at each other and exchanged even more confused looks. "I'll let you talk it over and come back in a few minutes."

"Who should it be? Definitely not me," said Neville. Fred, George, and Ginny all said, "Not me." at the same time. Harry was already out of the question, along with Hermione and Ron. The only three left to choose from were Luna, Poppy, and Marzia.

"I don't think you should go, Luna," said Hermione tentatively.

Luna turned her wide-eyed gaze onto Hermione. "No, I suppose I shouldn't."

Poppy turned to her cousin. "I think you should do it. You were a Slytherin, after all. He's probably not going to be too upset to see you."

"Okay," Marzia sighed, "I guess I can. And what do you mean by, 'not going to be too upset to see you'?"

"After what he went through, I'm sure he doesn't really want to live anymore," Harry whispered. Marzia nodded in understanding.

When Healer Ferguson came back in, they sorted everything out. He said that they could wake him up after he was healed just a little more, and they would contact her when they were going to do it. She just nodded, not saying a word.