Chapter 33: The Sickness of Severus

Severus had reconciled with Lily Potter in a pleasant manner not long after the incidents involving Sirius, Regulus and Melody. They apologised to one another and agreed to just look to one another's future, though unbeknown to Severus, Lily was still finding that difficult. All her guilt remained, and she still didn't feel that she was providing enough help to make up for how his original life turned out and the catalyst role she played in it. In the meantime, she had suggested to Severus to help the Slytherins in the Union to not let the pressure of people like Malfoy, Narcissa and their purist group bring them down to their levels.

Andromeda Black happily accepted Melody's offer to join the Union and treated her and Regulus very well. She did all she could to reassure them that joining the group that were not Pure-Blood fanatics was the better path to tread, as all Narcissa's desires would just lead to serving the Dark Lord and being little more than a slave to a maniac.

The second year exams were considerably more difficult than the first, and Severus and Lily worked their hardest, and on the last week beforehand, the Union meeting ended up being a study session for the majority.

Eventually, the exams ended and the Union members all felt that they had passed, though the OWL and NEWT students were less confident for obvious reasons.

A few weeks before term ended, Professor Millburn had not only resigned earlier than she had promised Dumbledore but had a reason for doing so. She had contracted spattergroit. The worst problem was that she was worried that she had possibly passed the early symptoms onto some of her students.

This turned out to be true. Alice had come down with symptoms and was sent straight to Madam Pomfrey. Several Hufflepuffs and Slytherins fell ill too.

Severus and Lily felt sorry for Alice and more so for Frank as he couldn't go within ten yards of his girlfriend and they were generally inseparable. Severus was particularly sadder to see Millburn go even though he knew she planned to. She had been a more pleasant teacher than Professor Reynolds and was never looking down her nose at anyone.

The end of year feast ended with Gryffindor winning the House Cup, which brought it to a draw between Severus and Lily, as Slytherin had won last year. The food was succulent, but the atmosphere was tense as some students were still worried that Millburn's spattergroit could have passed to any of them, and even some of the teachers had fallen ill, such as Flitwick and Slughorn, though the latter was still on his feet as his potions experience helped him sustain the disease to a mild extent and he still had an appetite. Severus didn't want to admit anything to Lily but kept his distance from her just in case…he was feeling peaky, had a sweat on and was losing his appetite. He decided to let Dumbledore know. If he was catching spattergroit, he wanted to ensure that Lily didn't catch it.

That evening, he knocked on the Headmaster's door.

"Enter!"

Severus did so, and Dumbledore saw immediately that Severus was paler than usual and could hardly stand.

"No need to explain, Severus. You don't wish to pass your incoming illness to your friends in the Union and would like to go home in an alternative fashion than the Hogwarts Express." said Dumbledore calmly.

Severus nodded, struggling not to let his head spin.

"Is it true, sir?" he asked. "Will I be scarred for life by this?"

"Only if you burst the pustules before they do of their own accord." said Dumbledore. "It's rather similar to the Muggle disease of chickenpox, only the spattergroit disease lasts considerably longer than chickenpox does."

Severus was not worried now. He had great patience and a lifetime's tolerance of pain and discomfort. He would not feel the temptation to scratch or pop the purple pustules before their time as much as others would.

Within half an hour, Eileen and Robin were informed of Severus' condition and Robin suggested that he be Flooed to St Mungo's immediately, if his mother consented. Eileen was distressed for her son, but all three assured her that Severus would be safe and in good hands.

Severus was taken to St Mungo's by Dumbledore, whom showed no concern at possibly getting infected. Another half hour later, Severus found himself in a secluded bedroom to himself, quarantined to visitors for a whole month, except the company of his heavily disinfected and protected Healers.

Severus was thoroughly depressed. He had no means of communicating with Lily, either Evans or Potter, he couldn't see his mother, his grandparents, his friends…at this point, he'd settle for just seeing Robin if it meant he'd have some familiar company.

"If I had only fully remembered and maintained my magical talents from my last life." he muttered to himself. "I could have been like Slughorn by now, and I wouldn't be infectious."

But he knew full well that even if he did use a Potion to lessen the severity of his condition, he would still look hideous and would not dare show his face to Lily. He wanted to win her heart, not surrender it to someone better looking like James Potter so quickly.

Unbeknown to Severus, he needn't have worried about James trying to win over Lily. On top of having Sirius, Remus and Peter over for a holiday visit, James had invited Marlene McKinnon and Rebecca Castle too. Sirius was in close contact with Marlene and had requested her to come too. James' parents agreed, and she and Rebecca arrived, the latter at James' request. Unlike some, James saw the connection between Severus and Lily, and as he owed Severus a life debt, he ultimately decided to repay it by letting them progress their own potential relationship and he could find someone else. Fortunately for Severus, James had still been too young to gain any physical and emotional attachment to Lily at the time Severus saved him from Remus, and so he gave up his minor affections for her not long after. Over the past six months however, James had seen somebody else who was making his newfound testosterone hormones run wild: Rebecca Castle. She was, to James, gorgeous. A slim figure, a wavy lock of blonde hair, with strawberry highlights, and a friendly and lightly freckled face. Sirius often teased him about it, but James countered with how Sirius began to slobber and slather whenever Marlene was in the room.

"Touché." came the mocking response.

As for Lily, she was feeling particularly put out at home. Her parents made her feel most welcome and gave her some of her favourite dinners on the first week home, but she missed Severus deeply and was so upset when she realized he wasn't on the train home. Eileen came over later that evening to explain to the Evans family that Severus was at St Mungo's, having contracted the spattergroit disease. This greatly upset Lily and she hoped for regular updates on her best friend's convalescence.

After a week of moping about Severus, Lily found herself being teased by Petunia.

"You look so dismal without him." she said. "Any chance that there's something going on here besides friendship?"

"Huh?!" cried Lily in surprise. "W-what do you mean?"

"Well, you're both thirteen now, you're both getting interested in the opposite-"

"DON'T SAY THAT WORD!" cried Lily, covering her ears, making her elder sister laugh.

"Nothing wrong with saying that word, Lily." she giggled.

"W-w-well, no I don't think so." answered Lily. "I don't think we like each other…that way."

"How do you know?" asked Petunia.

Lily didn't know. She remembered multiple occasions as of late where she tried to hide a blush from her best friend and Mary often hinted that she and Severus spent more time together for a boy and girl who were just friends than most people. She decided to divert the subject to avoid answering that question.

"Well…you're nearly fifteen and when have I ever seen you interested in the opposite you-know-what?" she asked.

Petunia flushed.

"Well, you're never around that much anymore. How would you know?" She stuck out her tongue and fled to her bedroom.

Lily knew Petunia had a point, but the flush now made her wonder if her sister was having trouble of a romantic nature or was just worried about their protective parents catching wind of the fact that she was indeed dating somebody and didn't want to present the young teenage boy to them.

A few days later, the two sisters heard their parents arguing. Apparently, a woman named Sarah Miller Gearhart was being recognised as the first lesbian to get tenure in a faculty position.

"These Americans with their ideas." said Trevor in a boisterous manner.

"Don't be so close-minded!" snapped Rose.

Trevor huffed in response.

Lily looked to Petunia, expecting her to share a head shake and an eye roll, but Petunia wasn't there. She was heading for the front door, shoes on.

"I'm going out to see Millie and Carly!" she called.

A moment later, she was gone.

Lily was a little confused. She and Petunia were only just previously discussing the idea of visiting Diagon Alley together, if Eileen consented to take them, as she still couldn't see Severus in St Mungo's, but now her sister had passed up the idea on a whim. And was that fear and terror on her face before she left the house?

The following month, Severus was finally allowed to have visitors. Eileen and Robin visited first giving Severus some summer homework which he was keen to finish with, and then his grandparents came too, noting how well Severus was looking compared to when Septimus contracted it in his forties. Severus was given several sets of sweets and other fancies to indulge on, but not being the best sweet tooth in the world, he took his time with consuming them.

The person that Severus wanted to see most of all was Lily, but she didn't come until a week later. She explained it was so that he could have his first week with his family by his side. He wanted to say she was as good as family to him but restrained himself.

Lily wasn't alone when she visited. Mary and Petunia were with her too, the former being a house guest with Lily for the week. She and Petunia had apparently hit it off as friends, and both looked concerned for Severus. Petunia was trying her best not to hurl over the grotesque spots all over his visage.

"See? One benefit for not being a witch, Tuney." said Lily. "You can't contract magical diseases."

Petunia had to agree.

Severus accepted the flowers from all three girls, thankful he couldn't get hay fever like Muggles do, and he tried his best to hide his face from Lily, but to no avail. She hugged him regardless of the state he was in. Petunia and Mary suppressed gagging but nodded to each other in agreement.

Eventually, they went back home, but as Lily went to get some ices from the ice cream van that had just arrived, Mary and Petunia went into a discussion.

"You see the connection those two have, right?" asked Petunia.

"Definitely!" said Mary. "I don't care how much they seem to fancy each other though, if my dream boyfriend was covered in purple spots as bulbous and big as doughnuts, I would not touch him for a fortune! She really must love him!"

Both girls threw into fits of laughter. When Lily inquired, they both dismissed it as a Muggle joke Petunia had told Mary. Lily rolled her eyes, buying the lie completely.

Later, they listened to some music on the radio. It was a band called Lavender Country. The songs were particularly gesturing the outgoing nature of homosexuality.

"They're really making an effort for gay rights nowadays." said Lily.

"You mean when two men like each other in the way Frank and Alice do?" asked Mary.

"Or two women." said Petunia in a dismissive sort of way.

Best switch it off or Dad'll go mad." said Lily.

Petunia did so.

It was mid-August and Severus was getting worried. Although he had seen the worst of his spattergroit, he was still not recovering and was still covered in spots, which thanks to his Healers and his own self-control, were bursting naturally and not leaving hideous scars. He knew school was getting closer and he had lost a whole summer with Lily. But he had to recover soon or he would return to Hogwarts in a terrible state, and nobody would come near him for fear of infection…even Lily. Another thing bothering him was because of his condition and his partially public surroundings, Dumbledore had written a letter saying he couldn't send the Resurrection Stone to him. He would have to wait until he came back to school or recovered enough to go to the privacy of home.

He had some visitors that day. Firstly, Professor Millburn herself came in, donned in a pale blue dressing gown and slippers that were pressed down at heel. She looked at Severus with a sympathetic smile.

"Professor." said Severus.

"Not anymore, Mr Snape." she said. "As I said, I will not return to Hogwarts this coming year. Once I am recovered, I will be going off on my research travels."

"I wish you the best of luck with that, Miss Millburn." said Severus earnestly.

"And I you with your studies at Hogwarts." said Millburn. "You and Miss Evans were naturals at Defence Against the Dark Arts. A lot came close, but nobody matched yourself, Miss Evans and Mr Potter in your skills. Your talents rivalled some sixth years, I must say!"

Severus felt some flattery here but remained silent.

"I apologise for putting you in here, Mr Snape." said Millburn with a sad hint in her voice. "I should have left sooner when I got my symptoms. Now, I've ruined your summer."

"Uh, it's er, fine." replied Severus, not wanting to cause an awkward farewell to a teacher who had been better than the thieving Professor Reynolds.

Millburn patted his shoulder. "Thank you, young sir." she said.

A moment after that, she went back to her own bedroom to finish her convalescence. Severus rested for a couple of hours before Lily came in. Petunia and Mary were absent.

"Mum's taken Tuney to Diagon Alley for some ice cream at Fortescue's." she explained. "And Mary's gone to stay with Quincey for a few days."

"Sounds fun." said Severus bitterly.

"Don't be like that, Sevvy." said Lily sympathetically. "I promise we will make it up over Christmas, Easter and next summer."

"I'll hold you to that." warned Severus.

Lily slapped his arm, prompting a small yelp of pain as she hit one of Severus' more sore spots.

"Sorry!" she cried.

"Don't worry."

The two of them chatted, when one of the Healers, a Miss Ethel Cornet came in.

"Mr Prince, we have the results of your more recent tests, and I am glad to say that you are recovering at a natural and satisfactory pace."

"Not quick enough for me." muttered Severus.

"Be polite." chastised Lily.

"Sorry." murmured her friend.

"However, there is some bad news." continued Healer Cornet.

"What's that?" asked Severus mildly.

"Your recovery will not be complete until the beginning of October." said the Healer quietly.

Severus' jaw dropped in horror. Not only did he have to continue sitting in this hospital bed for another month and a half, but he would also miss the first month of his third year at Hogwarts…a month and a half without his friends, without Lily…more time for her to bond with James Potter again…

"But Hogwarts-!"

"We are going to inform Headmaster Dumbledore and your Head of House, Mr Prince." said Healer Cornet raising a hand in a mild way of silencing him before he got into a fit.

But Severus was beyond not throwing a fit.

"How will I ever catch up?! How will I see my frien-?!"

"I'm sure your teachers will update you and give you homework regularly…but I'm afraid there's not much I can do about your friends." said Healer Cornet pityingly.

Severus hung his head low and tried not to break down. He didn't want to stay here for this long and without his friends for company.

"Can't I be transferred to the Hogwarts Hospital Wing?" he asked desperately.

"No, it is compulsory for patients with spattergroit to remain here instead of school. Besides that bed saved for you could be needed by another student." said Cornet.

Severus felt that the Healer was being deliberately unreasonable.

"The only other option available to you is if your parents consent to care for you themselves, but as neither of them are Healers, I would not recommend it." continued Cornet.

"My mother is an expert in Potions!" cried Severus. "If you give her a list of potions I will need during recovery, she can make them, I'm sure of it!"

Cornet frowned. The boy seemed most ungrateful for St Mungo's dedication and hospitality to him as a patient under its care.

"I will discuss it with your parents when they visit you this evening. They have said they plan to do so each evening after work, I believe."

Severus nodded in confirmation.

"Thank you, Healer." he said after a final nudge from Lily.

That appeased Cornet somewhat, but she still had a stiff lip upon her exit.

"That was a bit ungrateful of you, Sev." she said.

"Lils, think how you'd feel being cooped up in a room that's unfamiliar to you for a month and a half and possibly rising up to three or at worse, four months!"

Lily saw Severus' point.

"But did you have to act so drastic about it in front of someone who has been taking care of you all this time?" she asked.

Severus saw her point. He had been unused to showing gratitude to anybody in his past life as he had little to be grateful for, as no amount of praise would bring the love of his life back to him.

Times had changed now, and he had to remember that…but at the same time, he was still afraid of Lily getting too close to James Potter again. Could he lose her again in this life because of a stupid disease that a teacher gave to him?

"I'll apologise to her at my next opportunity." he said quietly.

"Okay." said Lily. "You'd better. I'm not best friends with unrepentant boys!"

"You sound like your mother!" teased Severus.

"Must I smack those spots again?" warned Lily.

"No…Mum." Severus laughed as Lily raised her arm threateningly.

Later, after Lily had gone home, Severus waited for his mother and Robin to arrive. They did so at eight o clock that evening.

Healer Cornet had explained to them prior to going to Severus' room about his suggestion of being home cared by Eileen and her potioneering skills.

"Could I see a list of the potions required?" asked Eileen.

"I prepared one." said Cornet, handing a piece of green parchment to Eileen, whom scanned through it.

"I can brew these with no trouble." said Eileen. "The ingredients are not too hard to get hold of either, are they?"

"No, and as Severus is still a patient, we are prepared to offer you some ingredients for a week after his discharge, if you consent to his doing so." said Cornet.

"I think we can manage that, thank you!" said Eileen politely.

The three of them told Severus about this, and he looked relieved, though more mildly than he'd liked to as he was trying to be more tactful after listening to Lily's advice.

"You can be discharged tomorrow, Mr Prince." said Cornet.

"Healer…thank you for looking after me and I'm sorry if I sounded ungrateful earlier."

The Healer smiled kindly.

"Not at all, Mr Prince. You're not the first patient I've seen to feel restless and uncomfortable being in St Mungo's for an extended amount of time, especially when it's their first time." she replied.

Severus felt relieved.

As Healer Cornet left, he embraced Eileen softly, and Robin ruffled his hair, which Severus did not object to. It didn't worry him much nowadays, and it was more affectionate than anything his father ever did in his memory.

It was the day that the students returned to Hogwarts. Lily came to see Severus in his bedroom before she set off for the station bright and early. She Flooed in after breakfast, came up to his room and promised to owl him after the first day of classes to tell him what he missed out on in the classes they shared together.

"Let me know what the new Defence teacher is like if you have them on the first day." said Severus.

"I will, and we'll introduce Andromeda into the Union as planned, and try to recruit others." said Lily.

"And send me any homework notes you can copy by magic each week, please."

"Of course! And-"

"Lily! You'll be late!" called Eileen.

Lily sighed.

"See you in a month's time, Sev. I'll miss you."

After a slight hesitation, Lily kissed Severus' cheek, despite his grotesque appearance.

Severus sat frozen for a moment, shocked at what Lily had just done.

Next thing he knew, Lily was gone and he heard her speak aloud her home address, then the whoosh of the fireplace in the living room.

"See you next month, Lils." he whispered gently, caressing the spot, the literal spot where Lily had kissed him. He almost collapsed in bed with a shiver of pure happiness.

(Here's Chapter 33! Hope you all like it! Please review! Thanks for reading! Chapter 34 coming soon!)