Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

April 15, 2018, a Sunday

Severus was later than usual with coming down to the headmaster's office this morning.

Since the current headmaster had his 'unwell' days, the portraits didn't usually pry if Severus had a lie-in, but this morning his hair was damp. He also looked around his office suspiciously and slowly circled his desk and the chairs before taking his seat behind the desk.

"Something amiss, Severus?" Dumbledore's portrait asked.

"Was someone here last night?"

"No one entered this office after you returned from the quidditch match. You ate dinner alone while reading."

Severus nodded.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, I woke feeling out of sorts and manky. Perhaps I read late into the night and was too tired to bathe last night."

Another portrait said, "Lack of daily hygiene has never bothered you before."

"Perhaps it was overwarm during the night, and I didn't recall when I woke."

Severus held his wand out and cast priori incantato. A wave of weakness followed momentary panic. Whatever he believed happened to him during the night led to casting a contraception charm. He could not allow his delusions to lead to randomly cast spells. He frequently had violent memories of his past and that would lead to endangering others. Once that happened, Severus would be committed to St. Mungo's. With no wand. Helpless. Perhaps tied down. Tortured again.

"Are you all right, Severus?" Dumbledore's portrait asked.

"Yes."

Severus reached for the stack of letters on top of his newspaper. A sudden pain stabbed high into his upper left chest; close to his bad shoulder so reaching out his good hand shouldn't have caused it.

He sat back empty-handed and waited. This could be the end. The twisting blade of agony was in the vicinity of the snake venom.

As time passed, he subconsciously counted the ticks of a clock in the room. He lived another 10 seconds. 30. 60.

He should do something before the pain became worse. The easiest thing to do would be summon his pain potion, and then while he was under its effects die painlessly. In a way, Severus would enjoy dying painlessly. Didn't he deserve that by now?

The portraits clamored for attention as the potion flew onto the desk.

Severus sighed before responding. "I am in pain now. I need it. I'll catch up on correspondence later. It is Sunday." And possibly the last day of his life, so he'd never have to deal with Hogwarts business again.

Dumbledore's voice rose out of the chatter, "Severus, can't you wait twenty minutes? You haven't even opened any envelopes."

"It's a new pain, not the increasing build-up of my usual ones. I need my potion now."

Severus ignored them as he uncorked his vial one-handed. He didn't need painted annoyances dismissing how much pain he was in and how much more he could stand.

His office floo flared before he lifted the vial to his mouth.

Madam Longbottom stepped out and said, "How can I assist, headmaster?"

The portaits had sent an elf on him.

He recorked the potion while attempting to move as little as possible.

By the time she loomed over him, wand extended, the cork was securely in place. Keeping the euphoric state of painlessness from him.

"Where the poison is, there's a different pain now," he said.

"How long have you had this pain?" she asked.

"Only since a short while. It's stabbing, rather than the marrow-deep ache I normally have."

"Since last night?"

"No, only since I've been at my desk."

She performed a motion with her wand.

Severus turned his face away as she touched his bad shoulder with her free hand. He'd rather take his pain potion and be done with it. But this woman could recommend him to St. Mungo's. And if that happened, they may not allow him to leave this time. They would take his wand. Or try to.

"Your clavicle is broken again."

He resumed breathing.

"Let me mend that for you."

Severus gave a brief nod. He had been through this before. The venom had made the bones in the area susceptible to breakage.

"Are you pressed for time this morning?" she asked.

All his aches anticipated their potion. He had it here. The cork had been out of it, and this witch showed up to delay his moments of peace. The pain-free instants that had become the only thing to look forward to.

He couldn't tell her what he really thought. "What service may I render you, Madam Longbottom?"

"Oh, I'm good. Potion usage is winding down now. Just treating the students that are getting worked up over their tests."

He didn't care about that. Severus wanted her to state her business and go.

"But while I'm here," she continued, "I might as well give you a good going-over. If you don't mind."

"Didn't we do this recently?"

"Before Easter," she replied.

When was that? He didn't know, and it wasn't wise to let someone know when he couldn't remember something as simple as that. He responded, "If you insist."

"Good."

Madam Longbottom was guileless so he believed her answer. She also had a lighter touch than Madam Pomfrey and clearly enunciated her spells so he knew what she was about. Pomfrey had never liked him, and she made it clear for many years that only her healer's oath prevented her from rubbing salt in any physical wounds he had.

While she had his bad arm out of its sling, Longbottom examined each of his remaining fingers.

"What test is that?" he asked.

"I'm checking your circulation. With the other damage, and not being able to move well, you might not notice a tingling sensation or additional numbness."

Had she held his hand before? Someone had held his hand. Bellatrix Lestrange came to mind. That wouldn't be Hannah Longbottom. He remembered her as a student with her idiotic blond pigtails with badger ornaments. He would never mistake her for Bellatrix Lestrange. If that ever happened, he belonged in St. Mungo's.

After placing his arm back in the sling, she worked her way down and did the same circulation charms on his unseen toes while they remained in his soft, indoor shoes.

"Not too warm with this wool on your legs?" she asked plucking at his socks.

He shook his head as he recalled someone had recently touched his bare lower legs and feet. Severus couldn't let his words expose his confusion. No, delusions. There was no more Bellatrix Lestrange. There was no more Dark Lord to tell Bellatrix to help him or seduce him, or whatever he imagined happened last night.

Severus escaped discovery this time. A contraception charm would harm no one, if anyone had been in his bedroom. And if it wasn't Madam Longbottom, Severus couldn't imagine who would have permission to be there. If there had been anyone other than a house elf, they could not publicly ridicule him because they'd expose themselves.

Still, this situation worried him. He could not consider himself safe.