Frank and Alice Longbottom

18th April 2000

Once again, Severus retreated from the broken and tortured mind of Frank Longbottom feeling defeated and depressed. As it always was, it was difficult for him to accept defeat but, as he always did, he accepted it with a heavy sigh.

"The same again?" the elderly Mediwitch Ava Nichols asked him and he silently nodded. She was there every time he came to visit the Longbottom's with renewed zeal. She was also the only one who actually knew that he visited them every few months. Not even Minerva knew.

Severus spared the the man reclining listlessly on the bed one last glance, as he rebuilt his battered and tired Occlumency shields.

"I shouldn't be surprised, I suppose," the grey haired woman said, sadly. "What happened to them was...monstrous. I doubt even the person who caused the damage in the first place could undo it."

"Then why do you allow me to keep trying?" Severus asked.

"For the same reason that you want to keep trying, I imagine. Because...even though I know that medically, it's not possible, I still want to hope that things will work out for them. And, perhaps, I feel a little guilty too. After all these years all we can do for them is make them comfortable. We can cure so many things we can't help them."

Brushing his hair back, Severus stared at her wondering what on Earth she had to feel guilty about. She wasn't the one who'd reported a prophecy to Voldemort which had made the Longbottoms and the Potters his targets. His actions had caused the deaths of Lilly and James, and the ruin of Frank and Alice. This mediwitch had nothing to do with it. He expected to see that she was angry with him for failing yet again, but he saw no trace of anger, only sadness for the two Aurors and what had become of them. He said nothing as he turned around and made for the door.

"Until next time, then," she said to his retreating back.

"What makes you think I'll come back?" he asked, stopping, but not turning around to face her.

"You always do," she shrugged and he left without another word.

Severus closed the door quietly behind him after he'd left their small, private room only to be greeted by the sight of two of his former students, Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood.

"P...Professor Snape, sir," Neville exclaimed with almost comically wide eyes.

"Hello, Headmaster," Luna said, much more calmly and seemingly without surprise. "How are you, sir?" she asked.

"Fine," he snapped as he always did when asked that particular question.

"I'll wait here, you go on and see your parents," Luna said to Neville gently and he nodded, then left after he recovered from the shock of seeing Snape.

"He'll get no response from them," the Headmaster said to her.

"He knows that," she chimed.

"Or recognition."

"He knows that too, but they're his parents," Luna replied, smiling kindly, "He loves them." Severus sneered but she continued to smile at him. "Did they recognise you?" she asked.

"Of course not," he answered.

"Did they say anything?"

"I wasn't there to have a conversation."

"That's a pity," she said. "I've read that people can hear everything around them while they're lying there. I suspect it's the lack of Wrackspurts in their ears. I don't think they like hospitals all that much."

"Naturally," Snape rolled his eyes.

"Maybe next time you could try talking to them, it might help," she suggested.

"What makes you think there will be a 'next time'?"

"Just a feeling, I guess," Luna shrugged.

"Hmmm," he muttered and stalked away.

"Goodbye, professor," she called after him.