Chapter 4- Severus and Minerva go back

After they had gotten back from the Leaky Cauldron Severus reminded Albus and Minerva not to say anything about where he had been going to anyone at the School.

Minerva couldn't get to sleep without seeing that little girls sleeping face out of her head.It bothered her to know that a child was destined to die and as Severus had told them it would be soon. She wondered how Severus could go day in and day out like he had been doing for months.

Albus sat in his tower bedroom and watched the stars outside his window. He couldn't sleep well either, thinking about Severus and those two little children. The one doomed to die and the other who should be running around playing little boy games undergoing some horrible muggle tests to find out what was wrong with him

Severus himself went down to his dungeon quarters laid down in his bed and stared at the ceiling and thought over everything till sleep overtook him

The next day they took their classes as usual and were very busy. Minerva kept herself occupied with the lessons so she wouldn't think of the two little children and what they must be feeling with all the tests that Severus had told her they must endure.

Severus was keeping to his usual routine of trying to teach dunderheads and finding the odd student that showed a real promise and talent in learning their potions. Afterwards he was looking forward to supper and headed down to theGreat Hall.

Minerva and Albus was already there when he arrived. The meal was eaten amid the usual chatter heard among the students about what they were going to do with their day. Albus had some ministry business to attend to so only Minerva went with Severus to the Leaky Cauldron.

Once they got there they proceeded to walk out the door of the pub and onto the street. Severus stood a moment and took a deep breath before he turned to go to the hospital. Minerva walked beside him and asked with concern

"Severus , are you all right?'

"Of course I am why shouldn't I be." Severus said

"Well you stopped and took a deep breath before we started up here, is something bothering you?" asked Minerva.

"Yeah there is .I am visiting two children, one who wont live to see adulthood and another who is too young to know what he is up against."

Minerva could sense the pained anger that Severus was feeling and didn't say anything more."

They entered the building and walked up to the room where Katrina and Tommy where getting their breakfasts.

"He's back Katrina, with a lady!" yelled Tommy in an excited voice to Katrina who was sitting on her bed feeling a little down.

She looked up and smiled when she saw Severus come in. "Hi there Severus i'm glad to see you." She said tiredly.

Severus sat down beside her and motioned Minerva to sit down on Tommys bed also.

"Katrina, Tommy this is Minerva McGonagall she works with me and is one of my friends."

Minerva smiled at the children and Tommy reached over and touched her arm. "Do you like little kids Minn erva?" He was having a little difficulty pronouncing her name but in his sweet trusting way he was responding to her and it appealed to her soft heart..

Minerva didn't show her shock over how bad the children looked but she admired the courage they showed in the face of the terrible illnesses.

Tommy asked her is she liked to read and she said "sure do," and he asked her to read a story form the book that Severus had brought.

She said she would and he opened the book to where he wanted her to read.

She noticed the skin patch tests over his little arms with painted circles and squares around them along with the bruises and needle marks "What are these ?" she questioned in her mind.

Tommy noticed her glance at his arms and told her they were some tests to find out what was making him have problems swallowing.

Minerva was amazed at how the little boy was so self contained and said those words as if he was talking about eating a chocolate bar or something.

"I hope they find out soon." Minerva said and she started to read the book with Tommy tucked up close to her and her arm around him.

Severus was listening to Katrina as she told him about the Chemo treatment, the terrible feelings she had when she was throwing up most of the time and how she felt her meds were not helping any more. She was very realistic about what she was facing. She knew she had only a matter of time left and she felt bad not for herself but for her mother who had to struggle with working on top of her worry over Katrina.

After Katrina was done talking Severus didn't make any comment. Though every word the little girl told him was like a knife being driven into his heart he had realized she just wanted him to listen to her feelings. He just hugged her and asked if she would like a game of checkers. She said sure just as long as she got the red pieces.

They had a few games that were interrupted only once when Katrina had to throw up and Severus held her while she threw up in the special container that was beside her bed. He contacted the nurse who came in and closed off Katrinas bed while she quickly changed Katrina's nightgown plus the bedding When she was done she opened the curtain took the container and replaced it with a new clean one. She then left after patting Katrina's hand while telling her she would check on her later.

Severus then went and placed the checkers game back on the bed and they continued their game where they had laid off.

Minerva was holding Tommy and watched Severus calmly helping Katrina and she realized that this was a normal routine for him. She wondered if she could ever be able to stay as calm as he did. She thought if Madame Pomfrey only knew how proficient he was and gentle she might ringtail him into helping her.

Minerva smiled at the image in her mind of Severus giving the sick students their Potion Medicines.

When Minerva had finished reading the story of Rupert the Bear to Tommy they joined in all together in a couple of games of snakes and ladders. Little Tommy crowed when he won both times. Katrina smiled at the little boys happiness at being able to win the game.

They had fun with the games till it was time to pack up and Severus tucked Katrina into her bed and kissed her forehead.

Minerva tucked Tommy into bed and they both said good night to the children dimmed the lights and left the room. As usual Severus went over to the nurses station and let them know they were leaving.

Minerva and Severus walked back to the Leaky Cauldron to have a butterbeer before they continued back to Hogwarts.