Kara piled food onto the brass tray with a huff. "Insufferable idiot probably would be happy with a plate of beef." He hadn't changed? Kara wasn't sure if she had hoped he would be different or the same.
She thanked the house-elves and levitated the platter in front of her. She always tripped on the stone staircases and did not want to have to make another journey to the kitchens or the Hospital wing.
Kara pushed the stray hairs in her eyes behind her ears and wondered if her hair would ever get used to being pulled up. She paused in front of the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room, thinking to herself that this was the only one she wasn't curious enough to enter in her seven years as a student at Hogwarts.
She sighed before beginning her trek back to the Headmaster's tower. Upon reaching the Entrance Hall, she noticed the light outside and realized it was nearly dusk. He would need to go back to sleep soon, but no doubt would insist upon asking her endless questions. She sighed, caught up in thought, and a slight drizzle of rain began.
Leaning against one of the columns, she barely noticed Minerva McGonagall approach quietly.
"Has Severus awoken?" McGonagall asked.
"Just now."
"When do you think he will be able to continue his duties?"
"He should be fine by next week. However, he will probably insist upon tomorrow." Kara half smiled at her.
"Very good. Please let me know when I may begin scheduling meetings. I have a list of possibilities in my office."
"Of course."
The conversation reminded Kara to continue her short journey. She finally reached the gargoyle guarding the passageway and mumbled, "Oolong."
She passed through the Headmaster's office to the short staircase that led to the Headmaster's bedroom directly above. Snape was reading her Daily Prophet, frowning. He was still sitting up on the bed, but was fully dressed and above the blankets.
"You shouldn't get out of bed yet," she said.
He ignored her. "Were you the one who undressed me?" He asked with a look of admonishment.
"Don't act as if I have never seen you naked before," she smirked.
He grimaced. "I thought we were never going to talk about that again."
"Oh, Severus. It was an accident. It's really not as big of a deal as you make it out to be. It was years ago, after all."
"However, my body looks significantly different than it did when I was sixteen."
"I know," she teased. "Besides, who would you rather have done it?"
He didn't answer, so she decided she had won. "Eat. If you insist upon getting out of bed before your body is ready, you at least need energy."
He nodded and grabbed a sandwich, eating it behind the newspaper.
"You didn't tell me I had been unconscious for over two months."
"We hadn't gotten that far yet. I expected to be barraged with questions all evening, so feel free to ask. I even kept old copies of the Prophet for you to read if you want a more objective source."
"Objective? This rag of a newspaper?" He put the uneaten half of the roast beef sandwich back on the tray and took a drink of pumpkin juice.
"Well, no longer controlled by the Dark Lord. Although Rita Skeeter is still writing for them." She mumbled, "That bitch."
He raised an eyebrow at her, "I see that she wrote a book about me."
"It appears so."
Snape tossed the paper to the bedside table and rose to stand. She rushed to help him, knowing that he was not well enough to stand alone. He shook his head and frowned.
"At least let me go into the study. I feel like and invalid in this bed."
She moved herself under his arm to help support his weight. He gained his balance and put both of his arms around her.
"Thank you." He said as her icy blue eyes pierced his black ones. Her eyes were just as cold as his were to most people, but they could see a softness in each other that was imperceptible to most.
"Not necessary. You're my oldest friend." She said unemotionally.
"It is. You've been my only friend for twenty years and I should have kept in contact with you. Sometimes old memories are too difficult to face. Know that I did miss you."
"No need to get sentimental. I'll start to think that you're someone else in Polyjuice."
"Still making jokes to hide your emotions, I see," Snape said in his all knowing voice.
"And you're still trying to scare everyone away to hide yours," she snapped back at him, gesturing to his all black attire.
"I told you that neither of us changed." It was how they hid the loneliness that no one seemed to notice any more.
"You're always right," she said melodramatically as they finally made it to the study. She let him sit himself in his armchair, and began making more tea. She summoned the tray of food from the bedroom and sat it on the table beside him.
"I guess I'm not finished eating?"
She ignored him. "Didn't you have some questions for me?"
"How did you stop Nagini's venom from killing me?" he said very slowly, drawing out the words as she handed him a cup of tea.
"Why, antivenin of course. And a strong potion to inhibit phosphodiesterase and hyaluronidase," Kara said as she sat on the récamier, leaning on the backrest that allowed her to face him.
"There are no known potions or antivenin for Naja koschei," he said simply.
"What do you think I have been doing for the last twenty years, Severus?"
"I assumed you were still working with the Healers from St. Mungo's on the healing properties of fairy dust. That's the last I heard of your research."
"I was before the first time Voldemort fell. Fairy dust is useful, but really doesn't have that much research potential."
"Well, fill me in on your life."
"Are you sure this is the first thing you want to know about?"
"Yes."
"Fine. You know I was working in Ireland until just before Voldemort fell. And, yes, I did find eight uses of fairy dust in healing magic. I'm sure you saw my publication." Her eyes dropped down to the oriental rug before seeing him nod slowly out of the corner of her eye. "That August, I felt like I had not done my part in fighting, an island over and out of harm's way. So, I decided to come back and ask Dumbledore for advice on what I could do to be of help. He said to finish my research and come back in December."
She sighed and watched as fat drops of rain hit the window. December was too late.
"Still?" He prodded her.
She ignored him. "Dumbledore sent me on assignment, and I continued to do so until the battle in May. I worked for seven years in India on those damn cobra potions-as you should be thankful. Most recently, I was with Charlie Weasley in Romania working with dragons, trying to tame them enough to be useful in the fight against Voldemort in some way."
"You never told me," he admonished her.
"I couldn't. You know as well as I do, Albus liked to keep his plans secret. However, had you bothered to write more often, you would have noticed how long it took for the owl to return."
"I wouldn't have waited so long if I knew you were doing such interesting research," he had a cryptic look on his face. "I assume you will be publishing soon?"
"Yes. I did publish my research in dragon behavior in the Journal of Magizoology, but I doubt you read that. I was forbidden to write about my work with cobras until Voldemort was dead. I was sure someone else would publish a similar study before I had the chance."
"No one else would dare risk their lives dealing with those wretched beasts. Most people avoid them if at all possible." He raised a hand to the scar on his neck, the edge just visible above his crisp collar.
Kara smirked. "They're not that noticeable."
"Don't act as if I'm vain," Snape said indignantly. She chuckled at his reaction. A small twitch in the right corner of his mouth hinted at a smile.
"It's getting late," she said as she whisked the teacups onto the tray with a swish of her wand. "We can catch up tomorrow."
"Where are you staying in the castle? Who else is here?" he asked quickly as he realized she was ending their conversation.
"In the dungeons, of course. In your former quarters, actually. Minerva is staying on this summer. Sybill is here, of course, but the rest of the staff is absent."
She stood from the récamier and offered her hand to help him up.
"One more question," he asked as he clutched her hand.
"Only if it has a quick answer."
"Why am I staying in the Headmaster's tower?"
"Because you're the Headmaster, silly."
"No, that was only temporary. I am not meant to be the Headmaster of Hogwarts," Snape disputed, his brow furrowed and his hands on her shoulders.
"Well, don't argue with me about it. I didn't make the decision. Come get some rest tonight and you can yell at the Board of Governors tomorrow."
"Who would petition for my appointment, after all I've done?" His black eyes were searching hers.
"Quite a few people, actually. You're kind of considered a hero now, thanks to Harry Potter, especially because of all you've done," she emphasized.
"You are giving me a headache." He pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Wait until the masses have discovered you are awake. I've already hexed Rita Skeeter a dozen times trying to come into the castle. We had to put special wards against animagi entering or exiting the grounds. That's one of the reasons Professor McGonagall is still here."
"Marvelous." His voice was unamused.
"Come on, back to bed with you," she said as she steered him back to his bedroom. "Incidentally, Professor McGonagall would like to know when you will be well enough to return to your duties."
"Tomorrow," he said immediately.
"I thought so," she sighed. "Will you at least allow Minerva and me to help you? That's why I stayed."
He frowned for a moment. "Seven tomorrow morning. We will have breakfast in the office. I will meet with Professor McGonagall at eight. Will you send a message to her?"
"Of course," she said with a small smile, helping him sit on the bed. "Do you need any help getting ready for bed?"
He raised an eyebrow, "No. I think you have seen enough."
She laughed, "Honestly. You are too full of yourself." She turned to walk to the door.
"Goodnight, Kara," Snape had an almost pleasant look on his face.
"Goodnight, Severus," she said, smiling sweetly at him.