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She didn't wake again for several hours. She rolled over a few times, feeling blissfully comfortable, and went back to sleep each time. When she did finally get up, it was the smell of food and her growling stomach that woke her. She opened her eyes to see Snape was sitting at his desk. She sat up, stretching, and saw he had a plate of food in front of him.
"I thought you were teaching," she said, pulling the blanket around her shoulders as she stood up, leaving Hemlock on the cot.
"I was. It is lunchtime now," he said. "I checked on you between classes – you were snoring."
"Wh- I don't snore!" she declared, feeling her cheeks flush as she sat in her chair in front of his desk.
"How would you know?" he quipped, arching his eyebrow. "It's a wonder you don't wake yourself up. It was like a freight train."
"Shut up!" she yelped, blushing harder. "It must have been the potion. A side effect or whatever."
He smirked at her.
"Are you hungry?" he inquired.
"Starving," she answered, her eyes on the chicken salad sandwich and chips on his plate. He pushed his plate across the desk to her. She quickly devoured the rest of his sandwich and chips, not caring that he was watching her eat.
"It is good to see your appetite has returned," he remarked. "How are you feeling?"
She shrugged and finished off the last of the chips.
"Your face looks better," he said. "How's your head?"
"I thought you said it didn't look bad?" she protested, reaching across the desk to steal his goblet of juice. She quickly drank it down. "I'm fine. My head is fine."
"Good. Last night's events have caused quite the stir around the castle."
"How so?"
"Tensions are rising between houses. I have given four students detention already this morning for fighting in the halls."
"What? They're fighting because of me?"
"Because of Mr Gecker's attack on you. Your fellow Slytherins have rallied behind you. There have been quarrels between Slytherin and Ravenclaw houses all morning."
"Rallied behind me?" she repeated. "Where were they six months ago?"
She couldn't help but feel annoyed. He shrugged slightly and Freddie blew out a sigh, sinking back in the chair.
"They're fighting because of me... I don't know how to feel about that."
"You do not have to feel any particular way about it. It's not your fault."
"It wasn't any of my Potions students was it?" she asked, suddenly concerned. "Amelia and the others – my 'fan club'?"
"No. Miss Hicks and Mr Harrow from Slytherin House. Mr Perkins and Samson from Ravenclaw."
"Maggie? She used to be my friend but she hasn't talked to me since Daniel disappeared. Who's Harrow?"
"He is a fifth year, Thomas Harrow. I believe he and Miss Hicks are dating."
"Why would they fight for me?" she asked, shaking her head. "I don't understand."
"I have never understood children," he said. The bell rang, signaling the end of the lunch period. "You should return to your dormitory."
"I should change and go to Transfiguration. McGonagall-"
"Minerva will understand," he said smoothly. "You may take the day off to recover."
"But I'm-"
"I will have one of your classmates bring you your homework. Come – I will escort you back to your Common Room," he said, standing up from his desk.
"You don't have to do that," she protested.
"I insist. Come."
Freddie stood with a sigh. She walked over to the cot and picked up Hemlock. She shoved her feet into her boots then turned to go.
"My blanket, Miss Gray," he said.
"Oh," she said, pulling the blanket from around her shoulders and laying it on the cot. "I'm still wearing your cloak, do you want it back too?"
"It has your blood on it. You may keep it. I have others," he said dismissively.
"All of them black?" she asked, grinning. "I don't think I've ever seen you wear anything that wasn't black...except your pajamas."
"Come along, Miss Gray. You're going to make me late."
"You are going to make you late," Freddie said, following him out of the office. "I don't need an escort."
"I disagree," he said, leading her down the corridor.
Snape walked quickly and Freddie had to almost jog to keep up. They passed by several students who were on their way to classes. They all stared, as usual, but this time the Slytherins gave her quick smiles before hurrying on their way.
Snape and Freddie stopped outside the entrance to the Common Room and he gave the password.
"What am I supposed to do all day?" Freddie asked.
"Rest."
"I've slept half the day already. I'm not tired. Can't I go back to the lab and brew something?" she pleaded.
"Later," he said. "After dinner."
"Why not now?"
"Winifred," he said, exasperated. "Relax. Read a book, do homework, I don't care just stay in your Common Room. I have to go."
"Fine," she huffed. "See you later."
Snape waited and watched her enter the Common Room before he turned and walked away.
He's trying to protect me, she thought as she entered the Common Room. I can't decide if it's endearing or annoying...probably a bit of both.
"Freddie!"
Freddie froze as Maggie and Christine came rushing over to her.
"Are you okay? Your face!"
"I'm fine," Freddie said tensely. "...I heard you got detention for fighting some Ravenclaw boys."
"Yeah, only cuz Professor Sprout caught us," Maggie said. "I can't believe Gecker attacked you!"
"In the bathtub!" Christine interjected. "You couldn't even defend yourself!"
"It's been an all out war with Ravenclaw since we heard," Maggie said.
"Perkins tried to hex me in the corridor before lunch – don't worry, I got him and his buddies with a few Leg-Locker Curses. And I didn't get caught," Christine said smugly.
"Uh...shouldn't you guys be in Transfiguration?" Freddie asked, not sure what to say to them.
"Yeah, we were just leaving. You coming?"
"Nah. I've been ordered to 'rest'," she said, rolling her eyes. "Will you bring me the homework from McGonagall?"
"Course we will. We better run, before Maggie gets another detention," Christine teased.
"Shut up," Maggie said, smacking her arm lightly. "See you later Freddie. Glad you're okay!"
"Later," Freddie said dubiously as they hurried out the door.
Freddie hurried to her dorm before anyone else could try to talk to her. She took Hemlock from her pocket, grew him, and put him on her bed. She took off Snape's cloak and looked at it. There was a dark spot on the end of it where he'd used it to stem the flow of blood from her nose last night. She used her wand to clean the stain, then folded the cloak and put it on her bedside table. She smiled slightly, pleased that he had given it to her.
She went into the bathroom that was connected to the dorms and checked her reflection in the mirror. She winced at what she saw. Most of her face was covered with a yellowing bruise. She touched it gingerly, imagining how much worse it must have looked this morning. She tried to see the back of her neck but couldn't. She imagined it must look about like her face.
She went back to her bed and sat down with a sigh. She picked up Hemlock and fiddled with his soft, tufted eats. Then she picked up her bag and riffled through it. She had Charms homework she could do.
I guess it beats just sitting here, she thought with another sigh. Then she realized something was missing. The Book of Potions! Severus must have it. At least, I hope he does. Unless someone stole it from me in the Hospital Wing... Severus probably picked it up before he left me there.
She arranged her pillows and made herself comfortable before settling in to do her homework.