Freddie woke a couple of hours later, alone. Snape was gone and she didn't see Madam Pomfrey anywhere. The ward was dark, the only light coming from the windows and a few sparse candles. She got out of bed, biting back a groan of pain. She got her wand off the bedside table and looked around. The curtains were still drawn around Geck's bed and she didn't see anyone else. She looked around once more, then left the Hospital Wing.
She walked down the stairs to the ground floor, feeling bruised all over. Even though she was still hurting, she didn't want to stay in the Hospital Wing. It brought back too many memories. She didn't need to be watched and she wasn't tired anyway.
She bypassed the Common Room and headed for Snape's office. She didn't want to go to her dorm on the off chance that anyone was still awake and wanted to ask her questions. She figured she could brew a potion or two and take her mind off things, keep her occupied til morning.
She removed the ward from Snape's door and stepped inside. She stopped short when she found Snape sitting at his desk, a half-empty bottle of scotch in front of him. They locked eyes, both looking surprised to see the other.
"I thought you'd be asleep," she managed finally.
"I'm not. You should be," he said, his speech slightly slurred. "You are supposed to be in the Hospital Wing."
"I can't stay there," she said, shaking her head. "It...I really hate hospitals."
"Me too," he said, still slurring.
He's drunk, she realized.
"You shouldn't be here," he continued. "You are injured and need to be monitored."
"I'm fine," she scoffed. "I'm just going to brew some potions or something til morning."
"No," he said, standing up. He stumbled slightly as he took a few steps over, blocking her way into the lab.
"No?" she asked, stopping in front of him and crossing her arms. "What do you mean no?"
"I mean no," he said. "You are in no state to brew anything. You're injured and need to rest."
She scoffed and turned to walk away but he grabbed her arm, pulling her back to him.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, his face inches from hers. She could smell the alcohol on his breath.
"To my dorm, since you won't let me brew."
"I don't think so," he said, his hand still gripping her arm tightly.
"I'm not going back to the Hospital Wing," she said stubbornly. "You can't make me."
"Actually I could," he said, squeezing her arm tighter. "I could tie you up and drag you back, if I wanted to."
She glared up at him a moment, then smirked slightly.
"You want to tie me up?" she asked sardonically.
His black eyes glittered as he stared down at her. He tightened his grip on her arm even more and she let out a soft gasp.
"You're hurting my arm," she said quietly.
He immediately released her and a flash of something like guilt crossed his face. He turned away from her and walked over to the fireplace. He leaned one arm against the mantle and stared into the flames. Freddie didn't move but watched him, curious and confused.
When he turned back around he picked up his glass of scotch and took a deep drink. He put the empty glass aside and picked up his wand. He stumbled back towards her and waved his wand. A cot appeared right inside the doorway of the lab.
"You can sleep here," he said. "Where I can keep an eye on you."
"...But I'm not tired," she said, though she wasn't opposed to the idea of sleeping in his office.
"I'll get you a Sleeping Draught. Lay down," he ordered.
Freddie sat on the edge of the cot and unlaced her boots, watching as Snape went into his quarters.
"Do you have a pillow?" she asked as she pulled off her boots. She pulled Hemlock from her pocket and grew him to full size.
Snape reappeared in the doorway with a pillow and the green blanket she'd seen on the back of the couch the last time she'd gotten a glimpse into his room. He stumbled across the room and dropped the pillow and blanket on the cot next to her, then handed her a small vial of Sleeping Draught. She looked up at him, noticing the slight flush on his normally pale cheeks, probably from the scotch. He had bags under his eyes as well.
"You look like you need this more than I do," she said quietly.
"Drink it," he said, returning to his desk. "Don't worry about me, little girl."
Freddie smiled slightly and uncorked the vial. She downed the potion quickly then lay down on the pillow and pulled the blanket over her. She breathed deeply and realized the pillow smelled of Snape. So did the blanket.
Is this his pillow? She thought drowsily as the potion began to work its magic.
"What's gonna happen to Geck?" she asked, her voice thick with sleepiness.
Snape looked down at her, his face flushed with anger for a brief moment.
"He has been banned from the Prefect's bathroom, removed from his position as Quidditch Captain, and lost 200 house points from Ravenclaw. He was also found to have several bottles of Firewhiskey in his possession, which is contraband for students within the castle. He is not allowed to leave his Common Room, except to go to class for the rest of the year. If I'd had it my way he would have been expelled," he said darkly.
"Heard you yelling," she said thickly, fighting to keep her eyes open.
"For all the good it did," he snorted. "I may not be his Head of House, but I assure you, Winifred, I will make his life a living Hell."
Hearing Snape swear woke her up just a bit. She raised her head to look at him but dropped it back on the pillow.
"How?" she asked. "He's not in your class anymore."
"I have my ways," he said mysteriously as her eyes closed. "Trust me."
"I do," Freddie mumbled as she drifted off to sleep.
#
Freddie woke to the sound of something beeping. It wasn't her watch. She groaned when she opened her eyes, a pain in her head making her wince. She lifted her head and saw Snape slumped over his desk. It was his watch that was beeping.
"Severus?" she said sleepily, but he didn't stir. She sat up, pulling the blanket around her shoulders. She stood up, feeling dizzy as she did so. She steadied herself against his desk and tapped his shoulder.
"Severus?" she repeated, concerned.
She poked him a little harder. He sat up suddenly with a shout and Freddie jumped back, nearly falling over.
"Sorry!" she yelped. "Sorry, sorry. Jeez, I thought you were dead!"
"Wh- Winifred? What?" he said groggily, looking around.
"Your watch is beeping. I think it's morning," she said, her head swimming as she made her way back to the cot. She sat down, putting her hand to the back of her head. It was tender to touch.
"Are you okay?" Snape asked, rubbing his eyes.
"Dizzy," she admitted. "And sore."
He stood up from his desk and with a wave of his wand revealed the entrance to his quarters and disappeared inside. Freddie remained sitting on the cot, feeling sore all over. Snape reappeared with several potions. He set them on his desk, then drank two of them. He picked up the third bottle and conjured a teaspoon.
"This is a very strong Pain-Relieving Potion," he said, walking over to her and kneeling next to the cot. "Dosage is very important. A teaspoon should suffice."
He poured the potion carefully and held the spoon out to her. She opened her mouth and he put the spoon in. She wrinkled her nose at the bitter flavor and swallowed.
Snape chuckled slightly as he re-corked the vial. He stowed it in his pocket and pulled out a jar of Bruise Cream.
"For your face. May I?" he asked, unscrewing the cap.
"Of course. ...Does it look bad?"
"No," he said immediately, dabbing his fingers into the cream.
"You're lying."
"You cannot possibly know that. Now, shut up and hold still."
Freddie closed her mouth and watching him as he delicately spread the cream across her face. His eyes were intense, focused on the task. His touch made her tingle all over or maybe it was the potion. It was making her feel light-headed in a not-unpleasant way.
"Lay down on your stomach," he said.
Freddie just grinned at him.
"So I can put this on your neck, Gray," he clarified.
"Oh. Of course," she said and lay down on her stomach. He moved her braid aside and gently brushed the stray strands of hair off the back of her neck. She couldn't suppress a soft moan and his hand froze a moment at the base of her neck.
He pulled his hand away and for a moment she worried he wasn't going to do it. Then he brought his fingers back, dripped in ointment. He spread the cream across her neck and she let out a soft hum of pleasure. She began to feel drowsy again, with her face pressed into Snape's pillow, breathing in his scent, his soft hands gently touching her neck.
"I dunno if I can go to class like this," she murmured, her voice muffled by the pillow.
"I do not expect you to," he said and she turned her head to see him screwing the cap back on the Bruise Cream. "Stay here and rest. I will let Madam Pomfrey know that you are okay and I will check on you later, after my class."
"Normally I would argue, but," she yawned and stretched out on the cot. "I feel too good to argue."
"Perhaps I should drug you more often," he joked. He put the potion and the Bruise Cream on his desk, then walked back over to her. He pulled the green blanket over her, then picked up Hemlock and tucked him into her arms.
"Thanks, Severus," she said, grinning foolishly.
"Get some rest, Miss Gray," he said, heading for the door. "I will check on you later."
Freddie watched him get his cloak and fasten it around his neck. He waved his wand to close the entrance to his quarters, much to her disappointment, then he left the room. She stretched again on the cot, still smiling. Her whole body felt like it was floating.
That Pain-Relieving Potion really is something, she thought, hugging Hemlock to her chest. His fur felt extra soft and she rubbed her face against the kneazle. I haven't felt this good in ages – maybe ever. No wonder the recipe for this potion indicates a potential for abuse.
She tried to remember the recipe for the Pain-Relieving Potion, but her brain felt muddled.
I could get up and look for it...but I feel sooo comfortable, she thought and surprised herself by yawning. Severus is right, I should go back to sleep...and he's gonna come check on my between classes.
She grinned wider.
He's such a sweetheart. He saved my life last night. He took care of me. He yelled at Dumbledore because I was attacked. Then he stayed up all night watching over me while I slept – until he passed out anyway.
She lifted her head to look at the bottle of scotch on Snape's desk. It was empty.
He probably wouldn't have let me stay if he'd been sober. Bless his heart. He really did save my life last night. If Moaning Myrtle hadn't gone to him, if he hadn't pulled me out of the tub, he – he saw me naked!
Freddie bolted upright on the cot, then began to laugh.
He saw me naked! I wish I'd been conscious for that!
She lay back down, still giggling.
I wonder what he thought about that? Did that give him pause? I wonder if he thinks I'm attractive...
Freddie drifted back off with thoughts of Snape in her mind.