AN: OH SNAPE! well anyway still hope that you are enjoying the story. The next few chapters may take a little while to complete now because I am heading back to school tomorrow, but I promise that I will update my story as quickly as possible. Have Fun!

- seclinalunica

Chapter ten: Sweet Dreams

"Severus," a voice whispered. Professor Snape slowly opened his eyes. His vision was blurred. He could only see five disfigured shapes staring at him. He heard a quiet voice.

"He's waking up." Snape broadened his vision, but he couldn't make out the figures.

"Told you that medicine would wake him up," Professor Snape carefully listened to the voice of a woman who stood on the right side of his bed. "Do not question me again. I am the school nurse am I not?" There was silence. The voice belonged to Madam Pomfrey.

An older woman spoke, "That is quite alright Poppy." Snape recognized the stern voice. It was Professor McGonagall.

This time an elder man talked; it was Professor Dumbledore. "Shh, we don't want to startle the poor man." Professor Snape snarled.

Professor Snape recognized a squeaky voice, "He's regaining consciousness well!" It was Flitwick.

McGonagall opened her mouth. "That healing charm you performed was spectacular Filius. This wasn't a minor injury."

Dumbledore sighed, "Yes, it stopped his bleeding."

Then a voice whispered into Snape's ear. "Severus, Severus, Severus Snape…" The voice trailed off. Finally, Professor Snape's vision cleared, and he saw Professor Dumbledore, McGonagall, Flitwick, Mckinnel and Madam Pomfrey clustered together. They were ecstatic.

Professor Snape was snuggled into a comfortably sized hospital bed. At first he didn't know where he was, but when he caught a glimpse of Madam Pomfrey, he realized that he was trapped inside the hospital wing. Professor Snape sighed. He was extremely pale, and his lips stuck out like a sore thumb. The enormous amount of blood loss made Snape extremely weak, which made it hard for him to speak. Professor Snape tried to make simple body movements.

McGonagall swallowed, "Oh, we were so worried about you dear. If Kenneth wouldn't have found you in time…well you know…you would have been…"

"Non-existent," Flitwick added.

Professor Mckinnel placed his naturally toned hands in front of his lean body, and made another crooked smile. "You were out cold," he stated.

Professor Snape's expression stayed neutral. He took a couple of quick breaths. Rage was boiling inside of him. "How many times do I have to tell you to stay inside the castle?" Professor Snape tightened his fists. He wore a hospital gown and the bed sheets covered the lower part of his body. Professor Snape's hands were placed on top of his chest.

Professor Mckinnel moved back and forth on his heels. "Too many," he responded to Snape's sincere question.

Professor Dumbledore knew where this conversation was heading. "Severus, is it too soon for you to explain what happened last night?"

There was a sharps pain in Snape's abdomen. Professor Snape clenched his teeth together. "No," he replied. Professor Snape coughed several times.

"Would you like some cheese with that whine Severus? It was just a narrow cut through the body, nothing too serious." said Madam Pomfrey as she walked to his bedside. She carried a glass of water along with two small pills.

Professor Snape gave Pomfrey a look that could kill. Obviously, he was in severe pain. Madam Pomfrey stopped talking, and quickly gave him the pills.

"So," said Dumbledore.

Professor Mckinnel held his unnatural smile. He patiently waited to hear Snape's explanation.

Professor Snape glared at the Headmaster. "I searched for Kenneth."

Mckinnel's smile faded.

"Why?" Professor Mckinnel responded, but Snape ignored him.

"I searched for him just like you said." Snape wanted Professor Mckinnel to hear this. Snape watched Mckinnel stare at Dumbledore in disgust. Mckinnel's body language told Snape that he couldn't wait for an explanation. The Headmaster felt Mckinnel's fury. Dumbledore slightly waved his hands. He advised Snape to keep talking. "In the middle of the night, I confronted some…thing." Professor Snape rubbed his forehead. "It attacked me without hesitation. It…spoke to me too."

Professor Mckinnel interrupted, "So it was the Walker?"

Professor Snape nodded.

McGonagall shook her head, "I think we should send the students home Albus. It seems that no matter how hard we try, someone still gets hurt." She clasped her hands together and watched Dumbledore lick his lips.

Professor Mckinnel was full of rage, and his cheeks turned a bright shade of pink. "We…will discuss that later. There's three months of school left." Dumbledore focused his attention to the injured Potions Master.

Madam Pomfrey fluffed the pillow that supported Snape's neck. "Plenty of bed rest," she said.

"We want our Potions Master back on his feet!" exclaimed Flitwick. "I shall bring you cupcakes later."

"No thank you," Professor Snape denied Flitwick's generous offer.

As Professor Dumbledore left the hospital wing, Snape sneered. "Some of your suspicions were false!" Dumbledore stopped, and shifted his body toward Snape. Professor Snape smirked. "Pity…"

Dumbledore fled the hospital wing. The remaining Professors trailed the Headmaster, except for Mckinnel who stood by his bedside.

"Filius…stay!" Professor Flitwick quickly ran to Snape's bedside. Indeed, Professor Flitwick was small, but compared to Professor Mckinnel, was abnormally tiny. Flitwick shivered as he saw Mckinnel gaze down at him with his hallow eyes. Professor Mckinnel curled his lips.

"Yes Severus?"

Snape turned his head toward Mckinnel. "You found me correct?"

"Yes," Mckinnel replied.

Snape twisted his neck and faced Flitwick. "And you were the one who healed me?"

"Stopped the bleeding actually," Flitwick corrected.

"And you know healing Charms?"

Professor Flitwick nodded.

Snape glared at both Professors who stood beside each other. They both acquired abnormal height. Mckinnel was too tall. Flitwick was too short. Professor Snape found this amusing. "You should stand beside each other more often,"

The two Professors felt offended. "You were saying?" Mckinnel continued the conversation.

"You know several healing charms Filius. Maybe in your spare time could teach Mckinnel a few of them." Professor Flitwick was petrified.

Professor Mckinnel raised his chin, and chuckled slightly. It wasn't pleasant. "I agree Severus. Even though I was a charms Professor, healing charms were not my specialty. As you previously witnessed, I am only capable of healing minor cuts and bruises."

Professor Flitwick avoided the two Professors, and quickly ran out of the hospital wing. Professor Mckinnel brought a chair to Snape's bedside. He breathed a sigh of relief as he sat down. "What happened?" Mckinnel began.

"Where were you?" Professor Snape interrupted. He avoided eye contact with Mckinnel.

Professor Mckinnel shook his head in disbelief, "I was outside. You ought to know that by now."

"I keep telling you, and telling you to stay inside the castle, but you won't listen." Professor Snape scratched his head. Mckinnel placed another pillow behind Snape's back for support. Snape brushed away Mckinnel's hand. "What are you doing outside anyway? You've got nothing to play for your family!"

Mckinnel raised his eyebrows and glanced at the roof, "I don't just sit outside and play music Severus."

Professor Snape asked again, "Where were you?"

Mckinnel sighed. "Did you check the Whomping Willow?"

There was an awkward silence.

Mckinnel spoke again. "So, what happened between you and the Headmaster?"

"You won't like it," replied Snape.

Professor Mckinnel squinted.

Professor Snape continued. "Dumbledore ordered me to follow you every night," he admitted.

"What?"

"You heard me," he snarled. "The Headmaster doesn't trust you."

"Funny." Mckinnel sounded sarcastic. "He once did."

Snape continued, "He wants you to resign."

"Even if I did," Professor Mckinnel paused. "What…would happen to the demon?"

"God dammit Mckinnel," Professor Snape yelled. "Why do you want to kill it so bad?"

Professor Mckinnel slightly turned his body to the side. It was hard for Mckinnel to speak. Professor Mckinnel's words slowly rolled off his tongue, "Because I want to protect everyone." Professor Mckinnel shifted his hollow eyes at Snape. Professor Snape couldn't tell if Mckinnel was actually looking at him. "You see, I am very close."

"Close," Professor Snape sounded confused. Mckinnel always told him things that never made sense.

"Yes." Professor Mckinnel gave another unpleasant smile. He looked as if he was up to no good. "You see, I have a request." Professor Mckinnel straightened his posture as he sat in the uncomfortable chair.

"What…kind of request?"

Mckinnel opened his mouth slightly before speaking. "Three days before the school year ends, meet me at the chamber in the east corridor."

"What chamber?" Professor Snape questioned.

"Like I said, it is in the east corridor."

Professor Snape was curious. "Why?"

"Because…" Professor Mckinnel felt like someone was watching him. "That…is when the demon…will die." Professor Mckinnel looked behind him then turned back to Snape. "I would like you to assist me."

Professor Snape placed his hands on his lap. "Why that day?"

"Well, that is the day when a particular tragedy occurred." Mckinnel spitefully smiled again. Snape felt dizzy. He placed his hand on his forehead, hoping that the dizziness would go away.

"We will see," Snape quietly replied.

Outside of the hospital wing, Professor McGonagall, Flitwick and Madam Pomfrey were standing outside of the wooden door, eavesdropping on Snape and Mckinnel's interesting conversation. They quickly glanced at each other when Professor Mckinnel announced the Walker's death. Mckinnel spoke again.

"The chamber is hidden in a door that no one can see, unless they know the password." Mckinnel shifted his eyes across the room. "The password is Anata Ni Ageru Me. When translated, the password means 'give me your eyes'. It may sound unpleasant, but it is a friendly…term. Obviously, I created it." Mckinnel stood up from his chair and began to walk out of the room. He stopped for a moment, and glanced back at Snape one last time. "Think about it. We will discuss it no further."

As the teachers heard Professor Mckinnel's heavy footsteps draw closer to the exit, they quickly fled the scene. Mckinnel stopped. He glanced at his stopwatch before leaving the hospital wing.

"Do you like me Albus?" Professor Mckinnel ran out of patience. He rubbed the back of his neck.

Dumbledore slightly nodded. "Yes," –

"LIAR!" interrupted Professor Mckinnel.

"Kenneth, what has gotten into you this evening?"

Angry, Professor Mckinnel clutched his white hair and violently shook his head up and down. Obviously, the man had gone crazy. "You know…the usual!"

Professor Dumbledore felt extremely uncomfortable as he sat in Mckinnel's dark office. Dumbledore raised his voice, "You tell me what's going on right now!"

Professor Mckinnel released his purple tinted hair, and quickly regained his composure. "Oh you know." Professor Mckinnel sarcastically remarked, "Deciding to do things behind my back."

Dumbledore bottled up his anger and frustration. "Kenneth" –

Professor Mckinnel screamed again. "I don't want you following me! A man has a right to his privacy!"

"Yes, yes you do, but you have to understand that I do not trust you at this moment."

"Why?" Mckinnel questioned. He slid his fingers across his extremely white face.

"One example is what you are showing me at this very moment. You are acting like a maniac! Now calm down Professor and let me speak." The Headmaster was adamant. Professor Mckinnel yanked the sleeve of his shirt.

"Then what can I do to regain that trust?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "It will be very hard for you to gain back my trust. If I catch you doing something out of the ordinary, you will be banished from castle grounds." Professor Mckinnel didn't say a word. "What are you teaching the children?" he asked politely.

Professor Mckinnel refused to speak.

"Something tells me that you've ordered your students to keep their mouths shut."

Professor Mckinnel shifted his eyes to the corner of his office. "I'm teaching them about demons okay?" Mckinnel sounded as if he was going to cry, "Especially Walkers, so that if they ever crossed one, they would be prepared."

Dumbledore felt pity for the eccentric Professor. "Walkers are very dangerous. They are not weak. Simple charms that you may have taught them, won't always work."

Professor Mckinnel spoke in a soft tone. "I don't want anyone else to die. Please…trust me Professor." Professor Dumbledore stared into Mckinnel's empty eyes.

"You broke into the restricted section?" Dumbledore questioned.

Professor Mckinnel slurred, "Yes."

Dumbledore licked his lips. He revealed small bottle. It was pumpkin juice. "You know, maybe we should start fresh."

Professor Mckinnel took a deep breath. "I would appreciate that."

"Well I think this will do the trick!" Professor Dumbledore smiled. "Here, have some." Dumbledore placed the bottle of pumpkin juice in Mckinnel's cold hands. Professor Mckinnel scanned it carefully.

Dumbledore added, "How about a truce Kenneth?"

"Anytime," Professor Mckinnel forced the cap off, and toasted. He drank almost half the bottle. He gave the juice back to Dumbledore. The Headmaster also toasted. He placed the bottle to his lips, but held back.

Professor Mckinnel looked a little dazed. "Say," he said, lightly swaying back and forth. "This isn't so…" Professor Mckinnel trailed off, and he collapsed.

Professor Dumbledore threw the pumpkin juice aside, and stared at Mckinnel. Surely it wasn't pumpkin juice. He fed Professor Mckinnel sleeping potion. Professor Dumbledore took out his wand as Professor Mckinnel fell into a deep sleep.

"Sweet dreams," whispered Professor Dumbledore as he knelt beside Mckinnel's limp body with a small flask in his hand.

Chapter eleven coming soon...