A Promise to be Better 29

Author: Raven Dancer

disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling except for the Drs. Barnes, Beryl and Gibbons. I receive no monetary compensation for these works.

Summary: returning?

Well, coming back wasn't so bad, Snape decided as the centaur lifted him off the ground. Oh, he hurt, he was freezing cold, he was unwanted and unloved, but he had a message for the Headmaster that needed to be delivered before he could curl up and die. More of a purpose than he'd had in awhile.

He leaned forward against the warmth of the furry back, holding on as best he could. Firenze moved slowly, seeming to know the wizard on his back was too injured to stay on properly. He picked along the path carefully. On the edge of the forest, on the path ahead, Firenze saw two wizards, a werewolf and a large, black dog.

Dumbledore, by the length of the beard, was among them. Good. This human was his, he bore the mark of Dumbledore's affection. There was a faint glow it could see in the damaged wizard's aura, that bespoke the Headmaster.

As it neared the wizards the dog began to bark. *Ah, another wizard!* Firenze thought. He called out to the Headmaster.

With much thanks from the werewolf, the other two wizards gently pulled the damaged one off the centaur's back. Firenze wondered if he'd be all right. Professor Snape had slunk through the forest before, returning from whatever evil places he had gone to, but he'd never been hurt as often as this year.

All three were now bent over the unconscious man. The dog was nearby, rather stiff. The centaur idly wondered if the dog/wizard didn't approve of Snape. Firenze mused over the fact that many of his fellow centaurs did not approve of him, either. He knew Bane would be along later to chastise him for helping the humans again. He snorted, deciding he'd just tell the old horse the alignment of Mars and Jupiter were difficult to interpret.

Pushing the amusing thought aside, Firenze watched with some interest as Dumbledore gathered the wizard up and held him tight. This was worse than last summer when the centaur had found the wizard curled up near dead on the forest floor. With that image firmly engraved in his head, Firenze returned to the forest.

Snape slammed back into consciousness. Everything hurt. He thought perhaps his robes hurt, too. There was warmth surrounding him but he could still feel the sharp stones and tree litter on the ground. Snape struggled to open his eyes.

"sshh, child, you're fine," Dumbledore soothed. Snape flinched, recoiling from the warmth.

"I, I am fine, Headmaster Dumbledore," Snape said pushing away and struggling to get to his feet.

"I will just go down to my, my rooms," his weak movements could not support him and he nearly collapsedS back into the older wizard's arms.

Now Barnes waded into the drama, bending down and trying to feed some energy into the hurt body. But Snape would have none of it, continuing to fight, scrambling to get away.

"No, no, I can go to, to my room. Don't, please don't. I'll

be good. I'll be quiet, please," piteously he begged, trying to shield himself from the blows he knew would follow. He'd upset mother again. He'd upset her and father was here, too. Whimpering, he collapsed into a heap on the cold ground trying to cover his head.

"Let him go, Albus, just let him alone a moment," Barnes whispered quietly.

"He'll wear himself out, then I can put him to sleep."

The Headmaster had a difficult time containing the urge to comfort his frightened friend. He backed a few steps, but rocked in place fighting against the nearly ovFerwhelming need to do something. Lupin finally had to hold Dumbledore in a fierce hug while Snape's private horror played out. The wizard floundered for a moment, then curled up into a fetal position still begging to be let alone. Finally Barnes moved carefully, slowly, towards Snape.

"Professor? It's Jeffrey. I'm going to touch you, Professor

Snape. It's Jeffrey," the Healer repeated, fingertips brushed the rigid man's back sending ripples of twitching through him.

But no protests. No more begging. Carefully he wove a sleeping spell sending Snape into as deep a sleep as he could muster. They all watched as the huddled wizard's body relaxed, unclenched and fell into unconsciousness.

Barnes didn't bother picking him up onto his lap, just lie down beside him on the cold earth and pulled close as he began to scanf. After several minutes, long minutes, the Healer pulled back and sat up. He kept a hand on the wizard gently stroking his hair.

"Not too good, but not impossible," Barnes muttered. He looked up at Dumbledore's and Lupin's concerned faces. Snuffles sat apart without any discernible emotion on his doggy visage.

"Cruciatus, very liberally applied. His nerves are nearly as

bad as they were last summer, Albus," the healer said gravely referring to the horrendous torture they'd struggled to heal him from before.

"He's catatonic, not responding to us. He's dealing with

his parents again. I'm afraid he just wants to hide for the

time being. Not that I can blame him given what's happened!"

Now that he had his patient back Barnes was becoming angry. He had warned Dumbledore repeatedly about Snape being fragile and about Black's culpability in ñthe ongoing pranks. The Healer wondered if he should insist bringing Snape back to Hogsmeade away from Dumbledore and his cherished Gryffindors.

Another movement and suddenly Barnes saw his father arrive with Harry. James Barnes ignored all of them and went to Snape, pulling the cold wizard up onto his lap and immediately began to feed warming energy into the still form.

"I woke up and everyone was gone," Harry said with concern painting his voice.

"I sent a message to Dr. James and he came over."

Without consulting his son, partly because he knew Jeffrey was getting angry but mostly because the patient was so cold, the elder Barnes levitated Snape and began to walk back to the castle. Harry and Black immediately fell in line leaving the younger Healer glaring at Dumbledore. Lupin finally released the Headmaster, dropping his arms.

"Let's go, gentlemen. No need to start yelling out here,"ª Lupin said pushing first on the Headmaster then tugging on the Healer. Both allowed the DADA professor to herd them along the path to the castle wanting to be with Snape.

Back upstairs James ignored everyone and cared for Snape. He was stripped and washed then warm sleep clothing pulled on. Finally an IV was started delivering some minor nutrients and potion for the fried nerves. The older Healer had treated others for prolonged exposure to the cruciatus curse; he knew what would best soothe the poor wizard.

Sighing, James simply stroked Snape's face gently, soothing the harsh lines of pain away. There were very good reasons the curse was called 'unforgivable'; the next few days of care would be difficult for both patient and Healers. He knew the feeling of exhaustion was not all due to the fact he was missing sleep.

Leaving Snape in the warmed bed fast asleep, he opened the bedroom door and immediately wished he hadn't. His h∂eadstrong son had taken on Albus Dumbledore and the Headmaster was not doing well. It was late, much too late and everyone was much too tired for this ranting.

Black, for the animagus had resumed his human form, was back on the lounge holding his godson as they witnessed the debacle. Harry looked concerned, but Black looked almost disgusted by the display. Lupin was glowering over by the fireplace, angry and ashamed for his part about the scene. The elder Healer stood between two wizards.

"Enough! Jeffrey, enough. It is past two in the

morning and this is ridiculous," he quickly quelled his son's angry voice as well as Dumbledore's defensive one.

"You'll wake Severus! He needs his sleep. Harry also

needs to get to bed. Everyone is back safe under one roof,

let's count our blessings and get some rest!" he watched as Jeffrey let go of his anger. Once that had been deflated, Dumbledore began to relax his stance.

"Sorry, Albus," Jeffrey muttered, then moved to the Headmaster and held out his hand.

"I was just so worried," the young healer continued, shaking the Headmaster's trembling hand. Knowing he couldn't leave Dumbledore like this, he gently pulled the older wizard into a hug, another whispered word, then they broke apart.

"You may nail my hide to the wall tomorrow, Jeffrey, I

more than deserve it," Dumbledore said wearily.

"Count on it," Barnes said, still no smile, but at least the fury had dissipated.

Lupin roused himself.

"Come on, Sirius, Harry. Let's get back down to my rooms.

I think you can sleep with us tonight, Harry," Lupin allowed, moving his small group to the door and downstairs. Harry glanced at Lupin then his godfather.

"I'll just go up to my room," H√arry said distantly. He was having doubts about Black and wanted time to sort his feelings out. Although he very much doubted a few hours were going to help much.

"I'm going to sleep on the lounge," the elder doctor said,

"no way I'd make it back to Hogsmeade tonight!"

The Headmaster and the Healer quietly went into the bedroom. Waving on a light each readied for sleep. Snape was in his preferred position, curled tightly around a pillow.

"I want to feed him some energy, Albus, but I don't know

how he's going to react to anyone touching him, even in

his sleep," Barnes remarked.

"What if he curls around one of us?" the Headmaster asked.

"That would be fine. If he wakes up, thou√gh, don't

be surprised if he becomes agitated and tries to get

away. Might be best if we got out of his way," the Healer suggested.

Barnes looked at the sleeping man. The liquid dripping slowly down into his vein would keep him under until he or his father removed it. Hopefully. Snape had been able to break through other potions.

With that in mind the Healer moved to the large windows overlooking the school grounds. He picked up his wand and carefully enchanted the windows: now they'd neither open nor break. Turning he noted Dumbledore watching him.

"Don't want Severus slipping out," Barnes offered.

"If he slipped out that way, he'd be dead," the Headmaster commented unemotionally.