A Promise to be Better 21
Author: Raven Dancer
disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling except for the Drs. Barnes and Beryl. I receive no monetary compensation for these works.
Summary: Barnes takes care of his patient. Choices are made.
"I can't believe you've brought me up here again," Snape moaned as he woke hours later, warmly wrapped and ensconced on the Headmaster's couch. Barnes stood smiling down at him as he wriggled into a more comfortable position.
"Not only that, but I managed to change your clothing, too," the Healer smirked as Snape quickly checked out what he was wearing. His robes were gone but he did remember putting on the shirt that morning. He gifted Barnes with an awful glare.
"Ok, I only stripped off the outer robes and removed your boots," he sat next to his patient and tucked the covers back before smoothing his hair. The Healer paid {particular attention to the left temple.
"Bruise is nearly gone but I'm thinking that's because I accelerated the healing process. You're very tired lately?" he asked as he began to insinuate himself into Snape. Jumbled emotions greeted him and he frowned.
"I just can't get to sleep. I've taken the potion you left for me, but it hasn't worked," Snape responded.
"Potion? Which one?" the Healer asked a bit confused.
"I don't know, one of the powder packets on my bedside table. I mixed it in juice like you did," the Potions Master answered, leaning into the warmth of the hand. It felt soothing.
"Do you have any left?" Barnes inquired as he upped the energy flow distracting his patient just enough to not notice the intent of the question.
"Ummm, yes, a packet or two. On my dresser," he let his eyes close and sighed. Barnes pushed him easily over into sleep.
Packets of potions? He hadn't left any with Snape and only one with Dumbledore. He didn't want Snape to get used to having a potion every night. Standing, he decided to retrieve the potion packets from Snape's rooms.
The Healer found two small packets left on Snape's bedside table. A quick sniff assured him it wasn't the standard potion preparation he'd used before. Someone else had placed these by the Potions Master's bed. A quick separating spell located three ingredients, one being powdered sugar, the other two seemed to be inert, cornstarch and perhaps a little gelatin. Things you could pick up in the kitchens with no troubles.
Putting the packets in his pocket Barnes returned to his patient who was still sleeping peacefully. Once more the physician scanned Snape encountering exhaustion, empty stomach and a slightly accelerated heart rate. He was currently entering a °rem cycle and he was struggling. With a lurch the wizard woke, eyes flying open.
"ssshh, it's fine Severus, it's ok," the Healer soothed, pulling Snape up. He noted how quickly his patient latched on to him, resting his head against chest, grasping his robes. Barnes ran a free hand over his back as he fed him a little energy.
"gods," Snape managed, "I'm really beginning to hate to lie down."
"I'll help you tonight, I want you to have a good night's sleep," Barnes said.
"'k" the wizard managed as a full shiver took hold.
"How about a warm bath? You can soak a bit and then we'll have dinner," Barnes offered. Snape nodded but did not move from his place of relative safety. The Healer squeezed him gently then pushed back a bit to stand up. Snape followed, stumbling a bit.
*poor Severus* thought Barnes, *exhaustion and being teased again.*
Taking advantage of Snape being undressed Barnes did ¿a quick visual mentally noting bruises on knees, upper thigh and stomach. He poured some herbs into the water and then assisted his patient into the tub.
"Severus, have you fallen again?" he asked quietly.
"Oh, I tripped up and hit against a chair and table in the staff room Thursday. I seem to bruise rather easily lately," he answered with a slight shrug. Only one person had laughed when he'd fallen and that was quelled quickly. McGonagall had helped him up and had been very kind as the other teachers expressed concern. He was glad he didn't know who'd laughed.
"You need to tell me about your falls, Severus," Barnes gently admonished him.
"Just clumsy. Probably because I'm tired. Just hope it's not because I've been damaged," he sighed slipping further down into the warmth. It felt good, it smelled wonderful.
"Me too," agreed the Healer, "but none-the-less, please tell me when you fall. I want to see if there's some pattern developing." He moved to the end of the tub and began to soap up Snape's hair.
"You don't have to do that," the wizard protested, starting to move away. Barnes pulled him back and continued to massage the soap onto his scalp.
"I don't have to do anything. I want to help you feel better," the Healer replied. He could scan Snape as he washed which was a definite advantage. His patient was much calmer now, the essential herbs soothing him as much as the water and care. The more at ease the better the chance of eating a good meal and sleeping that night.
As he rinsed soap away he contemplated the packets. Who had put those placebos in Snape's rooms? Very few had access to the staff private rooms but he supposed any competent wizard with a good opening spell could get in. Plus Snape had been forgetful, leaving doors opened when he wandered about.
And why fake packets? That didn't make a lot of sense. They'd have no effect on Snape.
Unless.
Unless the person or persons wanted Snape to doubt the potions and hence the treatments. Wanted Snape to give up and cease trying. Was Snape more important than they realized in the safety of the school?
Or it could be just a prank. The same group responsible for the lab disaster might think it funny the Potions Master would have broken sleep. How childish!
Good grief! On one hand a calculated plot to weaken the school's defense. On the other, an idiotic attempt to make Snape look like a clumsy, worthless git. One plot nearly worthy of Voldemort, the other a child's game.
Black! It had to be that damned animagus! Barnes poured rinse water through his patient's hair and fumed silently. *Can't be Black, oooh nooo!* he said sarcastically to himself. *Black promised to be a good boy*. He snorted and moved back to the side of the tub allowing Snape to wash himself.
Barnes knew about Pettigrew, knew that Black was innocent. At least of the charges that had landed him in Azkaban. But although the man was not a traitor or murderer, he did hate Severus Snape with a passion. Not once had Barnes seen Black remotely polite to Snape. Nearly twenty years had passed since they'd been in school together; Snape had finally grown beyond the hate, but had Black?
The Healer was not certain. Dumbledore was assured. Then the Headmaster had such a soft spot for his old Gryffindors that it seemingly blinded him on occasion. Of course, all this speculation did not explain the tripping. Someone would have noticed the big dog about to do that.
*I'm going nuts!* he groused to himself. He noticed Snape was finished. Barnes pulled a towel off the rack and held it open for him.
"Such service," Snape teased as he stepped into the towel.
"It'll cost you extra if you want them warmed," Barnes came back in kind. He watched the wizard dry off, worried he might become unbalanced and fall while he was bending over or moving about. At least Snape had become used to an escort and didn't seem to mind.
"I'd offer you a knut for your thoughts, Jeffrey, if you were inclined," Snape murmured. Ah, maybe he did mind being watched. The Healer chuckled.
"Sorry, I'm just worried you might take a nose dive. It'd look bad on my records if you fell here," Barnes tried to avoid a full explanation.
"Ah, well then, I'd best not," Snape replied, giving the Healer a curious look. He wasn't fooled, but he wasn't going to pursue the conversation, either.
Clothed, complete with thick socks and a warm robe, Snape joined Barnes at the dining table and took stock of dinner. Having missed lunch and not eating much breakfast the Potions Master found himself hungry.
Barnes was pleased. Snape had eaten a substantial meal (for Snape) and was currently dozing peaceably in the lounge with him. Lack of restful sleep had taken its toll quickly on the Potions Master's body. The Healer sent a periodic feed of energy to keep Snape's body relaxed against him.
Dumbledore came into his rooms with Snuffles on his heels. He was anxious to see Snape; he was a bit upset with himself for not noticing his friend's exhaustion at the very least. He'd even forgotten about him falling Thursday (Minerva had told him in concerned detail).
When the Headmaster and Barnes brought Snape up earlier that day Black had been waiting in Dumbledore's offices. He was very insistent the Headmaster come out and walk the grounds with him. Barnes had been upset, although he hadn't said a word, when Dumbledore opted to go out with the animagus instead of waiting for Snape to wake up. With some shame the older man remembered his promise to keep the Potions Master forefront in his thoughts.
But Black was needy, too. He'd had a difficult 12 years locked up unfairly. Such a hard fall after all those good years at Hogwarts and just after. Now Dumbledore remembered fondly the group of Gryffindors that made life very interesting around the school.
Snape had been difficult. He'd required a lot of time. It was worth it, every moment. Now that he'd recalled the 'golden gryffs' he remembered they had been just as cruel and mean as Snape had been. Worse, they had the school backing them.
Why had he gone out with Black? Why did he have this obsession with those boys? *Fodder for contemplation* Dumbledore sighed to himself as he tossed his cloak on the rack. Leaving Black to transform, he moved quickly over to the lounge.
"Severus? Child? How are you feeling?" The Headmaster bent down to stroke his face gently. He was rewarded with a smile and tired eyes.
"Fine, Albus. A little tired," Snape replied, very happy to see his mentor. He started to reach up for the Headmaster when Black moved into sight. His hand dropped back to the Healer's robes.
"Hello, Sirius," the Potions Master managed in a friendly tone. Black did not respond directly to him.
"I'll be going, Headmaster," Black said shortly.
"I'm going to order up some tea, Sirius. Stay awhile," Dumbledore said hopefully.
"Another time," the animagus retorted. Snape slowly pushed up; Barnes did not stop him.
"I need to lie down, Headmaster," the tired wizard sat up on the edge of the lounge. "You can stay, Sirius."
"Oh, that's nice of you, Snape," Black replied sarcastically. Barnes could see the tension stretch through the Potions Master's back. Whatever he wanted to say was being controlled.
"I just thought you'd like some time to talk, Sirius. I know that I make you uncomfortable," Snape said as evenly as he could manage. It hurt him that Dumbledore stood there and said nothing, nothing at all! *Probably would like it if I left so he could spend time with his Gryffindor* he thought with a twinge of sadness. He really wasn't enough of a friend, was he?
Dumbledore was taken aback. Here Snape was being as conciliatory as possible and Black was still unbending! Maybe it would be better if Snape left for awhile so he could talk with Black about his crappy attitude! He stepped back from Snape, reinforcing Snape's worst fears.
"Go ahead, Severus. I'll come down and get you in a little while," the Headmaster said as calmly as he thought he could. Without a backwards glance, in only a robe and socks, Snape walked out of the Headmaster's offices and went down stairs. Barnes was furious with Dumbledore. It took a great deal of control not to yell.
"I hope you understand what you just did, Headmaster," he drawled, glaring at Dumbledore. He gathered his satchel and cloak and went to find Snape.