Hello All, greetings from Bologna Italy! I'm so glad I have finally had a chance to update this story again, things have been hectic lately with the preparations for this trip, especially with the extra Wind Symphony rehearsals. We've performed two concerts so far in Rome and here in Bologna, now we have just one more tomorrow evening in Pesaro. That's enough about my life right now. Please enjoy this chapter, I will try to update again as soon as I can.
Disclaimer: Obviously I do not own Harry Potter, the entire Potterverse belongs to JK Rowling
Walking through the halls in the dead of night could be rather peaceful. It was not often that the passages and corridors of this school were so quiet. It was rather relaxing actually, walking through these hallways so late in the evening. Everything was so serene it was difficult to believe that earlier in the day these halls were packed with students.
Now as she made her rounds through the corridors making sure that there were not students out of bed Minerva finally allowed herself to have some time to think. It had been a long week, although they were only in the second month of the term students were already beginning to get restless. Hopefully next week's Halloween feast would be a good remedy for that. Everyone needed something to lift their spirits, and hopefully that feast would be a good distraction from what was going on in their world.
It was not just the students who were having a trying term. Many of her fellow staff members were beginning to feel the stress of keeping everything going at the school. She could see that it was wearing on everyone. Some mornings it was difficult for her to put on a happy face and teach her students when they were getting news of attacks and casualties everyday. It was all the more difficult when they knew the people. Just last week Minerva had lost a friend from school. He was not someone she had been terribly close with, but he had been a friend nonetheless. They had studied together in school, although he had been a few years ahead of her, and they worked in the same department when she had been at the Ministry. Now she would never be able to do that with him again. She would not even be able to attend his funeral.
As difficult as everything had been for her she felt that she should not complain, many other people had worse to cope with, even some other people on the staff. Just watching Albus on a daily basis she could tell that this war was taking its toll on him. Even watching him, however, was easier than watching Severus. Lately he had been rather haggard looking. He was quite good at concealing this fact, but Minerva spent enough time with him to notice. Perhaps this was because she now had some idea of the stress he must be going through.
Over the past two weeks they had met for a few evenings to play chess and have tea. No matter how exhausted Severus seemed to be he always insisted that they meet, even when Minerva offered to reschedule and let him rest. He had told her that being able to enjoy her company and a game of chess was more restful than going back to his room would be. Although it was selfish of her, she was glad that he had not taken her up on her offer of rescheduling their meetings. She truly enjoyed those quiet evenings and chess games, more than anything though she enjoyed his company.
Although she had other friends amongst the staff Severus was the closest to her in age, and he seemed to understand her the most. Tonight he had missed dinner in the Great Hall; she knew his absence meant that he was on some sort of mission for the Order, more likely than not something that had to do with the Death Eaters. The very thought made her shudder, he was putting his life in danger every time he was with that group of people. If he was discovered it would mean certain death for him. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had no problem killing traitors, even on suspicion. She did not think that she could take losing another friend in this war, especially after she had finally started to get to know him.
As she finished up her rounds and was preparing to go upstairs to her room she heard a thudding sound down on the first floor. It was not too loud, but she felt that it merited some investigation. Her first thought was that Peeves had been the cause of that sound, quickly changing directions she headed down the stairs her wand out in front of her. She looked around but he did not seem to be anywhere in sight. There was no sign of him in the entry hall so she decided to investigate the corridor just to be safe.
The glow from her wand cast an eerie light on everything in the dark corridor. She was about ready to turn back until she saw something in the shadows that was not quite right. Moving closer to it and allowing the light from her wand to shine on that area she realized that the something was a someone. That someone was collapsed in a heap on the floor. Immediately she ran over to see what was wrong, she realized with a start that the person lying on the ground was Severus. When she got to him she found that he was unconscious, there was blood trickling down his forehead and she found that he was paler than normal.
"Severus, Severus." she said urgently shaking him a bit. She hoped that would be enough to wake him.
It took a few moments, but gradually he came to. "Minerva." he said groggily.
"Yes, it's me." she replied gently. You are injured, you need to see Poppy. I can go get her and bring her here."
"No, no please do not." Severus replied trying to sit up. "I can manage."
"You are injured and it is quite possible that you have a concussion. You need to see Poppy." Minerva said emphatically.
"I can tend to myself Minerva, I am not incapable." Severus said. Against all of Minerva's attempts to stop him he managed to pull himself into a sitting position.
"I do not doubt that you are capable, however, in this present condition I do not think that it is advisable."
"There is no need to bother Poppy, I can assure you." Severus said getting to be rather annoyed. "If I go and see her she will fuss over me, and it is likely she will keep me for at least a day. I cannot afford to lose that time." He managed to bring himself to a standing position, but he was still rather shaky on his feet. Minerva promptly stood up and tried to steady him. Severus tried to resist, but he was too exhausted.
"What do you propose to do then?" Minerva asked him matter of factly.
"I will return to my private rooms, I am perfectly capable of tending to my own injuries." He replied. "I have done so many times in the past."
Minerva had to wonder just how often this happened. It seemed so strange to her that he could talk about injuries such as the ones he now had so nonchalantly. The very thought of what he must go through made her cringe.
"I will help you." she replied, surprising even herself. She knew that she should be taking him to see Poppy tonight, by far that was the best option. On the other hand she understood what he meant, Poppy did have a tendency to worry a little too much over her patients. She could be rather stifling. Minerva shared Severus' aversion to being confined to the hospital wing.
"I could not ask you to do that." Severus protested. "I can do this for myself, I have done it before. Besides I must see the Headmaster this evening."
"What that has to do with anything, I do not know. One thing I do know is that you cannot see him in this state. If I help you, we can get you bandaged up in a shorter period of time therefore allowing you to meet with the Headmaster sooner."
Severus considered this for a moment before finally giving in. "Alright, but you will not breathe a word of this to anyone."
"I believe that is a request I am willing to acquiesce." Minerva replied. "Now, if we want to avoid Peeves and get you to your meeting in a timely fashion we should get you to your rooms."
"Alright." Severus replied, and the two began to make the trek to his rooms. For being injured he was still able to manage walking at a fairly decent clip, albeit leaning on Minerva for support. As they were walking to his rooms Minerva realized that she did not know where they were, she had to rely on his guidance to get to them.
They walked through a few passages and down the stairs into the the dungeons. Minerva shivered a bit at the chill in the air down here. She had never spent much time in the dungeons, the ambiance had never quite appealed to her taste. After going through a few corridors they arrived in one that was lined with portraits. Many of them were full sized, Minerva assumed that one of these probably led to Severus' rooms. She was surprised then when they turned down yet another corridor and ended up near the potions classroom.
"If we were coming this way to begin with, why did we take such a long detour?" Minerva asked him surprised.
"Peeves tends to lurk in this area at this time of night, if we had taken the corridor that comes straight here he would have ambushed us with a terrible racket." Severus replied leading the way down the hall and past the classrooms, until at last they came to a portrait. The portrait was rather nondescript at first glance, but upon taking a deeper look at the painting one could be entranced by it. The painting was of a rather imposing wizard, he was taller than average, and was wearing long emerald robes. He was in a room lined with bookshelves, the table in front of him was covered in potions supplies. A book on the table opened at the center.
"Good evening professor Snape." the portrait said.
"Good evening Professor Edgars." Severus replied.
"If I may ask, who is it that is accompanying you here today?" Professor Edgars asked eyeing Minerva up suspiciously.
"This is Professor McGonagall." Severus replied.
"Is she to be trusted?" he asked looking at her skeptically over his glasses.
"I trust her implicitly." Severus said. "She is here as my guest."
"Indeed?" asked Professor Edgars. "Can I trust that nothing dishonorable will take place this evening?"
"I assure you that my intentions are pure." Severus said.
"It is not you that I worry about." the portrait replied.
Minerva had never imagined that a portrait would accuse her of impropriety and leading people astray. This was utter nonsense. "I can personally promise you that nothing of which you would find dishonorable will occur here this evening. You have my word." Minerva said in answer to the portrait's challenge.
"In any case Professor Edgars I am in a weakened state, as you can see. Nothing would happen."
"I suppose that you may have a point." the portrait said. "Very well, you may both enter, but she will be gone before I return." From the tone of his voice Minerva could tell that this was not a request. The portrait swung aside and the two of them entered the rooms.
Minerva did not know what she was expecting to find in Severus' private quarters, but it was not this, that was for certain. They were a lot more pleasant than she would have thought. Although it was clear that they were still in the dungeons, he had managed to make this sitting room rather comfortable. There was a comfortable looking sofa in front of the fireplace with some assorted chairs to the left and right. A silver and green rug lay on the floor, covering most of the cold stone.
Although the entire room was interesting to see one piece was clearly the focus of it. A black baby grand piano stood in the opposite corner. There were multiple pages of sheet music opened on top of it. To the right of the beautiful instrument there were three large windows which looked out into the lake. These were nearly floor to ceiling and they cast an eerily pretty glow on the instrument. Minerva had no idea that Severus played an instrument, she had never before thought to ask him about it. She made a mental note to bring it up in a conversation when they next met under better circumstances.
"I must apologize for Professor Edgars." Severus said interrupting Minerva's thoughts. "He is not always like this, he just does not know you very well."
"I suppose I will take your word for it. He does seem rather imposing though." Minerva replied.
"Why don't you sit down? I will go find the potions that I need." Severus said gesturing to the sofa in front of the fireplace.
"You should be the one sitting down." Minerva said firmly. "You can tell me where everything is and I will retrieve it."
Severus attempted to get the potions on his own, but Minerva's stern look stopped him in his tracks. "As you wish." he said before finally sitting down on the sofa.
"I am glad we have settled the matter, now where am I to find the necessary potions?" she asked him gently.
"There is a cabinet in the next room. Bring the three from the top shelf, and the salve from the bottom shelf. Please grab some of the cloth bandages as well, you should find them on top of the cabinet."
Minerva did as she was told, everything was just as Severus had explained it. She was back in the sitting room in a few moments, potions and bandages in hand. When she got back to the sofa Severus was barely conscious, he was in no condition to administer first aid for himself. Taking a seat in front of him she opened the salve, and began applying some of it to the gash that was on his forehead.
He winced a bit as she touched the spot, but his eyes remained closed. Taking one of the bandages she gently wrapped it around his head and fastened it together. As she was reaching for the salve again she accidentally bumped his shoulder. He gasped sharply in pain and his eyes opened.
"I'm so sorry." she said quickly. "I did not realize the extent of your injuries."
"It is not your fault. Thank you so much for tending to my injuries." he said.
He tried to cover up the pain he was in, but she could still see it in is face. "I am not finished yet Severus. You still have injuries that need to be tended to, that much is apparent." She said. "Now if you would just remove your shirt."
"That will not be necessary, I can tend to myself." he said sternly.
"This is no time to be stubborn and headstrong." Minerva replied arms crossed over her chest. "Now remove your shirt."
"The injuries are not that bad I can assure you Minerva, just a few slight bruises. I can manage." He said calmly.
"I will hear none of that. This is no time to play the hero." she replied sternly. "Now please, cooperate with me. I am not going anywhere until you allow me to tend to those injuries."
It took a few minutes of them locked in a silent battles of wills before Severus reluctantly gave in to her request. He slowly removed his outer layer of robes and then his shirt. His entire torso was badly bruised. It was a painful sight to behold, but Minerva did not allow herself to be off put by what she saw. She immediately began tending to his injuries being as gentle as she could. Periodically Severus would assist Minerva with which potions to use, but otherwise the two of them were quiet.
When she had finally finished tending to his injuries and bandaging him up Minerva made a kettle of tea. She had always felt that a warm beverage was essential to the healing process. Once he had some of it to drink, and he started to regain some color in his face he thanked Minerva for all she had done that night.
"I should be getting back to my rooms." Minerva said once she had finished her tea. "There is no telling when Professor Edgars will return."
"We need not be ruled by a portrait." Severus replied. "However I should be getting to the headmaster's office. Perhaps we could get together in my office tomorrow afternoon?"
"Indeed, and I will expect an explanation as to what exactly happened to you this evening." she said. "Don't even try to avoid it, or I shall be forced to explain the situation to Poppy."
"You would not do that to me."
"Believe what you will, but I would not risk it."
"You know, you really are a rather exasperating woman at times." Severus replied. "We will see about tomorrow. We will have tea, as to the topic of the conversation, that is to be determined."