The next few days passed in a hazy, medicated blur. Freddie didn't know how much time had passed. She knew that they hadn't found Daniel. She knew that Snape was near her, often. She knew that every time she started to get frustrated, or angry, she was made to drink a potion that made her sleep.
One night she woke up and she was alone. She sat up. She didn't feel tired or groggy. She wasn't wearing her bloody robes anymore, someone had changed her into a hospital gown.
She listened intently for any sound of anyone moving before she slipped out of bed. She looked for her wand and became briefly annoyed when she couldn't find it.
Keep calm, she told herself. If you don't keep calm someone will catch you. Think of something. Potions. Potion recipe. Let's see...
The only thing that came to mind was the Calming Draught she'd been forced to take.
Add six drops of fluxweed oil to one pint of purified water. Add the inner membrane and fluid from 3 bloodroot stems.
She continued the recipe in her head as she quietly searched for her wand.
Alternate clockwise and counter-clockwise stirring until the potion begins to steam. Mince one valerian root and add it to the potion.
She found her trunk with all of her belongings tucked under the hospital bed. She didn't stop to wonder why it was there, but opened it and found her wand on top. She grabbed it and immediately tapped herself on the head, applying a Disillusionment Charm.
It wasn't flawless, she wasn't completely invisible, but it was good enough. She left the Hospital Wing quietly and headed down the stairs. The stone floor was cold on her bare feet, but she didn't feel it. Her mind was focused on one thing and one thing only.
Filch was in the entrance hall and Freddie pressed herself into the shadows, standing completely still. When Filch lurked off into the dungeon, Freddie left the castle. There was a thick layer of snow on the ground and her feet left tracks as she made her way to the forest.
She removed her Disillusionment Charm as she reached the edge of the forest and immediately began calling Daniel's name.
"Daniel!" she shouted, heading into the woods. Her feet were cold and being scratched by briers, but she didn't feel them.
"Daniel!" she yelled. "Where are you? It's me, you can come out! Daniel!"
It was dark and she couldn't see so she pulled out her wand. Then an idea hit her.
"Find Daniel," she said, holding her wand flat in the palm of her hand. It didn't move. "Find Daniel. Find Daniel! Find Daniel, you useless piece of crap!"
She threw her wand and it hit a tree, sending off a shower of red sparks. She sank to the ground, sobbing. She knew what it meant, but she wouldn't accept it. He wasn't gone. He couldn't be gone.
She drew her legs up in front of her and hugged herself, sobbing Daniel's name. Her tears froze to her face.
"Winifred!"
She gasped and looked up, hoping for Daniel. It was only Snape.
"Idiot girl! You'll freeze to death!" he said, removing his cloak and wrapping it around her.
"He's gone," she sobbed, her teeth chattering. "I can't find him, he's g-gone."
"Hush," he said harshly, then changed his tone, softening it. "Come with me."
Freddie didn't move but sat there trembling, sobs wracking her frame. Snape squatted beside her then did something that surprised her so much she stopped crying – he scooped her up.
"Where's your wand?" he asked, one arm around her shoulders, one beneath her legs. "I know you didn't get out here without one."
"T-tossed it," she said, shivering.
"Idiot girl," he muttered, pushing her closer to his chest as he dug out his wand. "Accio."
Her wand came flying out of the snow and he grabbed it, nearly dropping her. He tossed both their wands on her stomach and got a better grip on her.
"I n-need to f-find him," she said, struggling weakly against him.
"Be still," Snape said, holding her tighter as he carried her through the forest. "They cannot find him, Winifred, we can't find him. It's been a week. He's-"
"No!" she said, striking his chest and sobbing again. "He's not dead! He's not! Don't you dare say-"
"He's gone, Gray. He's gone and I'm not going to let you freeze to death trying to find him."
Freddie hit him again but she was weak and was just beginning to realize how cold she actually was. She hit him again but he just held her closer. Finally she just buried her face in his chest and cried.
Snape carried her out of the forest and trudged through the snow-covered grounds towards the castle. She put her arms around his neck and held on tight. He readjusted his grip on her and carried her up the stairs. She laid her head against his chest. She had no more tears to cry, no more fight left in her.
She could hear his heart beating, strong and steady, in his chest and it soothed her. He smelled of potion ingredients, of herbs, and that soothed her as well. He carried her up the stairs, into the Hospital Wing, and laid her back in her bed.
She was too cold, too tired to say or do anything as he took his cloak from her. He pulled the blankets over her and sat down in the chair next to her bed. It was dark, there were no candles lit, but she could see his face by the moonlight coming through the windows.
"I was coming to tell you – we found this," he said, indicating the table beside her bed. It was Daniel's record player. Freddie inhaled sharply.
"Is it yours?" Snape asked.
Tears filled her eyes. She wanted it, wanted to say it was hers so she could keep it. But she couldn't lie to Snape. She closed her eyes and shook her head no.
She heard him get up and she opened her eyes. He pulled her trunk out from under the bed, opened it, and put the record player in it. He held a finger to his lips and pushed the trunk back under her bed. She nodded silently.
"You should sleep," he said softly, sitting back down beside her.
Freddie nodded again and lay still. She watched Snape and he watched her, his face unreadable. She was almost asleep when he spoke.
"They're transferring you tomorrow," he said quietly. "To St Mungos."
Freddie opened her eyes and stared at him, speechless.
"There's nothing I can do about it," he continued, his voice almost inaudible. "Dumbledore thinks they may be able to help you."
She exhaled slowly and closed her eyes. She didn't care what happened to her now. Daniel was gone. She fell asleep with Snape watching over her.
Author's Note: I know you guys hate me right now 😅 No worries, i'm fixing to get some more typing done and will have another update soon! Side note, to the reviewer who was turned off by Freddie using Mudblood so flippantly, it's the way she was raised and something she will learn better soonish. As of now she is unaware of Snape's blood status and thinks he is pureblood like she is. He will teach her better, don't worry and I hope it hasn't turned you off reading the story. Thanks everyone!