Chapter Seven: Resting Up:

Moody sat knitting something green while keeping watch over Severus. Let anyone say something about him knitting and he would blast them off the planet. It was therapeutic and helped him relax though he was not very good at it he still liked doing it. Severus was still very sick and so he slept most of the time waking only to eat, use the toilet or take one of the dreaded potion filled bath s or on the rare occasion he was feeling up to it he would talk with Harry, let the gaggle of women fuss over him and once he had allowed Ron Weasley to play chess with him. But now the potions master was sleeping, wore out and tucked under layers of warm blankets. Molly came into the room as she had taken to caring for him as Bill had opted to stay at Hogwarts and have his left arm checked to make sure it was working properly as he had been having trouble with his metal arm and was worried it might have been damaged by a few curses in the battle.

Molly was joined by her new friend Narcissa who were now united in one thing, their love and care of one snarky dark but brave potions master Severus Snape. Narcissa took a seat next to him as did Molly and Narcissa smiled at how cute Severus looked asleep. She nearly giggled at what would happen if she told him that, she was in fact one of the very few who had ever seen him blush and it was amusing to get her "younger brother" embarrassed. For brother is what Severus was to her and always would be, Lucius may have taken Severus under his wing all those years seeing first the potential in the young boy then growing to care for him as he would a brother. Narcissa too had feelings for him and she loved him, not in the way she loved Lucius no it was the love of a brother, a rather bratty younger brother. Severus stirred and woke slowly as Narcissa brushed a lock of his dark hair out of his face and he looked up at her with his dark black eyes and smirked.

"Going to get rid of that blond imbecile and finally come with me?" He teased.

"That would be insist brother dearest." Narcissa shot back at her adopted brother as Lucius had in all but law adopted Severus as family.

"Hmm, I did forget that, we could forget that could we not?" Severus said then seeing Molly he smiled, "I get a little sick and all of a sudden all the beautiful women come to see me."

"Severus you stop being a tease." Molly warned him summoning Dobby who had taken to caring for Severus as well. "Dobby will you please bring some tea and cakes?"

"Yes Mrs. Weasley." Dobby said then seeing Narcissa he smiled his ears wigging, "Miss Cissy Dobby is happy to see you!"

"How are you Dobby?" Narcissa asked, she was still mad at her husband at how he had treated this particular elf. You being treated well?"

"Yes, Harry Potter great wizard and he lets me serve though he will not allow Dobby to punish himself, he says that is wrong and so Dobby does not, he goes to Harry Potter or Sirius Black!"

"So long as you are working hard I see nothing wrong with how they treat you." Narcissa said.

"Oh Dobby works hard, Dobby loves to work!" Dobby said, "if misses and the professor need anything let me know."

"Of course we will." Molly said.

The women turned to see Severus had tucked into the cakes and tea, it was clear the house elves including Dobby knew of Severus need for lots of food. Moody limped forward, took a cake himself, sniffed it and ate it. This made Molly very happy, he was starting to trust just a tiny bit. It was so hard for him to after all he had been through, the trauma was always under the surface for him and it was not fair. He had never tortured or maimed anyone, interrogated yes but he was not like some Aurors who thought nothing of torture. Of course that did not mean Moody coddled his prisoners as Severus well knew. He would get the truth from them and he proved that with good interrogation and a few potions his way was the best.

"Oh look who showed up." Severus said, "what are you knitting?"

"Trying for a pair socks, not working well though it is restful." Moody replied.

"I prefer scaring first years." Severus replied silkily. "Much more fun, they learn to respect and fear you right off and they are easier to control later."

"Or you bring in back up." Molly said smiling as she sipped her tea.

"I became very good friends with Molly when her twins Fred and George came to the school. They did one prank against me and after I sent an owl to Molly here and she came up and gave me permission to discipline her two boys as I saw fit. I didn't have to much but if a prank of theirs did get out of hand I took care of that problem."

"They are not bad boys they just needed guidance." Molly replied.

"So did Draco, he was a bit of a problem, Lucius did spoil him a bit too much, the whole strict father act he used when Draco was with him in public was all an act and Draco knew it. I am surprised he turned out good, well without Severus here…"

"He is still a brat himself, way he treats me." Moody growled.

"It's funny to get you riled up." Severus smirked.

He yawned and started to feel sleepy again though he had been awake only a few minutes. Poppy had warned everyone about how tired Severus would be and so Molly was not surprised that as soon as Severus was done eating he went back to sleep. The potions along with what was left of the curse made him so tired and all he had done for the past two days was sleep. Poppy had cheerfully stated that Severus was doing so well and that his body was healing well. Molly looked down at the young man and smiled, he was like a son to her and she realized she had more sons and daughters than those she had given birth to, Harry, Hermione and she would have more like Severus. She tucked him in and kissed his forehead and Narcissa kissed him on the cheek getting him to smile in his sleep. The women went to the other end of the room to talk quietly with Moody and play cards while Severus slept on.

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This was a short chapter but needed even if all Severus did was eat and sleep. He needs it, he did take a powerful curse and his body has to rest. He should be back to his usual self sometime soon. But for now a dreaming sleeping Slytherin is what you get. :)