It took more than just repeated lines of "Professor, please get on the bed." for Severus to actually settle on one. When he finally has, however, he laid unmoving, much to the Mediwizard's distress. Who knew Severus could be so stubborn at times? Though, something at the back of her head told her she should've expected it. With his permission, Selena proceeded to roll up the hem of his black trousers to reveal the wound he copped from Fluffy, resulting in her momentarily frown, remembering that if it wasn't for him, she'd be the one splayed on the bed instead.

She took a seat by his injured leg and summoned a small basin and towel. After a wordless "Aguamenti!", water poured from the tip like a faucet and filled the basin half-way. Selena, then, put her wand aside, dampened the towel and began dabbing on the wound gently, cleaning it.

The first contact caused Severus to flinch, most likely from the sting, and her eyes met his own apologetically, stopping her movements. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

"Do proceed, Miss Stellifer. I can take it. I'm not a child." His grumbles amused her, evoking a smile on her lips.

They fell right back into the glum quietude of Halloween night, all while Selena finished her work. At times, she felt Severus' eyes on her, but she never bothered to prove her suspicions by sparing a glance back. She would, however, catch the calm rise and fall of his chest, like that night on the viaduct, and unlike the previous events of that evening.

Severus still wasn't himself, she knew. There was still something on his mind he was concerning himself about; His heavy exhales and occasional pensive gazing outside the window made it clear as day to anyone who paid close attention. Selena, while occupied in her mundane labour, vaguely wondered what made him this way. She was at a complete loss and it only piqued her curiosity further, though, she dared not question the potioneer about it.

After a while, she summoned a few jars from the medicine cupboard, preparing for the next step of his healing.

"You know," Selena broke the silence. "I never got to thank you..." Severus' head shifted slightly. "Not just for tonight, but for the Dreamless Sleep too." She met his distant eyes and smiled. "Thank you, Professor. Despite that it's only been two months since we've known each other, you've done me a great deal since."

"Your gratitude is appreciated, Miss Stellifer." Severus bowed his head once. "I should say, however, that you mustn't get used to it."

"To what? You being kind ?" The potioneer's brow quirked ridiculously at the adjective. Selena chortled, "You are kind, Professor, just not amiable I suppose..."

Severus frowned. "What a ludicrous observation." She laughed, then suddenly it ceased.

"Wait! I'm actually still a cross with you." She complained, and he frowned further. "The deferral of our library meeting. A reschedule was all I've been looking forward to during the past few days, and I never got it."

The potioneer merely sighed. "What are you going to inquire of, anyway? I really have no opinions towards the book."

"You couldn't have no opinions, that's impossible. The book was so eventful and Austen is amazing." He scoffed, and then an idea popped into her head. "How about we talk about it now!" Another sigh from Severus. "Oh, come on. Just a few questions and I'll be out of your hair."

"Well, it's not like I have any more modes of evasion now, anyway." He waved his hand for her to begin. "Proceed."

She produced a jovial hum. "Who's the character you liked the most?"

" Merlin ," He pinched the bridge of his nose, making Selena pull a face. Severus sighed, "Elinor, I suppose."

Her face fell further, this time, quizzically. "Elinor?"

"Problem?"

"I pegged you to be more inclined with the colonel. You and he share similar traits, if I should say so myself." He scoffed at her words, and she snickered. "Don't take it the wrong way, Professor. I admire Colonel Brandon, he's my favorite."

Severus' doubtful hum only caused Selena to snicker louder. "On the contrary, I find you an alluring similarity to Elinor." He said.

"Really?" Selena blinked, finding his statement unexpected. "I like to think I'm more like Marianne…" He only quirked his lips—his version of a shrug, Selena guessed—and this time it was her turn to be curious. "What made you think I'm like Elinor?"

"Your traits, obviously. That's what we're doing aren't we? Comparing traits with fictional characters?" Selena rolled her eyes, and the potioneer continued complacently. "Like her older sister, you're more composed than Marianne is, but you don't lack the geniality. Considering your Mediwizard occupation, indubitably, you put others' satisfaction before your own, even if it's difficult for you."

Selena didn't know she had paused from applying medicine on the wound all because of Severus' words. She resumed her task with a coy smile. "I'm going to treat that as a compliment." She tittered teasingly.

"I really don't care." He rolled his eyes. "You know, now that I think about it, perhaps, you and Marianne do share a few similarities." Selena's curiousness returned. "For one, I find you both insanely annoying."

The Mediwizard broke into an uncontrollable laughter. "I truly hate you, Professor."

"Oh, I've no doubt." Said Severus as he relaxed his head against the pillows, shutting his eyes shortly. Selena finished up her task with a lifted mood.

"Alright, I'm done with that... I just have to add the bandages..." Selena reached for her wand resting on the tray. "It was a close call, but it seems you'll survive, after all."

"Think you're funny, do you?" Selena giggled in front of him, while the potioneer just sighed in pseudo-exasperation. After the final step of her task, and with Severus all patched up, Selena began to tidy her station.

She spoke again when she saw him move to sit up. "Exhausted, Professor?"

"Extremely." He exhaled. "If you're finished, shall we head on down, Miss Stellifer?"

"Actually, Professor," Selena turned to him with uncertainty, though she appreciated his thoughtfulness, "It's still a long way back for you. I was thinking maybe you should just Apparate to your chambers instead, so it wouldn't worsen. I know you'd rather spend the night in your chambers than stuck with me here, recovering."

Severus scoffed, but nodded reasonably nonetheless. "If you say so… In your own time, Miss Stellifer."

"You don't have to wait on me, Professor. You may leave now, if you like. I think I might stay up for a little longer to rearrange this cupboard." She said.

The potioneer shifted unto his feet, wobbled a little, but eventually regained his posture back. He stood for a little while—Selena was confused whether he was really insistent on waiting for her or just getting used to the odd feeling of his injury—but either way, he was frozen on his spot.

"Are you sure you will take long?" He asked.

"Probably." Selena moved her shoulders. "Professor, I insist you retire." She said earnestly. "It's been a long night."

Severus was quiet for a moment. "Because you insist," He eventually said.

"I do." She nodded.

He proceeded to slightly hobble to the edge of the bed. "Miss Stellifer, just so you're aware, I am obliged with your attending to my injury."

She smiled genuinely, ignoring the way her heart sped for a fleeting moment. "No need to thank me, Professor. I'm just doing my job."

"Of course." Before he the moment he intended to Disapparate, Selena intervened.

"Wait!" She fished a vial out her tote, the same vial Severus lent her for the draught for Dreamless Sleep. It was filled with a new batch. "I made another, here you go."

The potionner accepted the vial with a vaguely puzzled countenance. "You didn't have to refill the draught."

"I did on purpose. I want you to take it tonight." She urged before heaving a nervous sigh. "Look, what I said on the 3rd floor about you acting strange recently was no lie, you really weren't yourself." The Mediwizard ducked her head slightly. "Not to pry or anything, but whatever's bothering you right now, I hope it subsides eventually... I know what it's like to have dreams that haunt you, Severus, it's truly draining, and I can see that kind of fatigue in you."

A few moments of utter silence passed. No words, just inaudible exhales, until Severus said in his nonchalant manner, "You said my name again."

Selena chuckled, "It seems that I did." Her gaze fell on the vial which was pressed inside the hold of his palm. "Seriously, though, take it... I'll make it a prescription, if I have to."

"Oh, how comical, you are, Miss Stellifer." Said Severus, sarcastically. "Tomorrow will be another day of it, I'm sure."

"And the next days to come, assuredly." She chuckled. "Good night, Professor." The potioneer left after his usual scoff, disappearing into thin air.

With a slightly sympathetic sigh, Selena returned to the cupboard and hurried to accomplish her work so she could retire to her own chambers as well.

Moments later, much to her surprise, McGonagall's footfalls and voice echoed within the walls of the stairwell. "Poppy? Selena? Are still you up there?" Before The Mediwizard could answer, the aged professor revealed herself under the threshold of the infirmary.

"Minerva," Selena paused from rearranging the medicine cupboard and turned to her senior colleague with a smile. "Can I help you?"

"No, no. I was patrolling. With a recently loose troll, one couldn't be too cautious." The aged woman entered with a soft smile. "I saw the light, so I came up to investigate, naturally." She settled herself on a bed near Selena. "How about you? It's almost an hour before midnight..."

"Oh, Professor Snape was admitted with a harsh bite wound tonight. I've just finished attending to him."

"A bite wound?" Minerva parroted in surprise. "Where on earth did he get that? And how come I didn't notice earlier...?"

"While the rest of the staff were investigating the dungeons, he and I decided to check on the stone..." Selena chose to leave out Quirrell and her suspicions. "He received a bite from the three-headed dog while trying to accustom it with me."

"Oh dear, the dog… Fluffy, was it?" Selena nodded. "Hagrid wouldn't be pleased to hear about this."

The Mediwizard cocked a brow. "Hagrid?"

"It's Hagrid's, you know; The dog."

"What!" Selena suppressed her laughter. "Merlin, no wonder."

"Come now, dear, who else in the castle would most likely own a pet that large?" Minerva chuckled. "But is Severus alright now?"

"The wound is... healing ," Selena paused, her tone abating. "Although, I can only hope so are other aspects of his life." She sighed as she shut the cupboard door.

The professor nodded, her voice; distant. "I suppose he does seem a little despondent recently, doesn't he?"

"He isn't himself." Selena added. "I mean... Not that I've known him for long or anything to determine that... But as someone who understands his character, I can see the difference. This isn't him."

The two women drowned deep into quietude for a few seconds, internally worrying over the state of their colleague with uneasy sighs.

"He lost someone very dear to him on this day; Severus." Said the professor, instantly capturing Selena's attention. "Eleven years ago."

"Oh..." The Mediwizard was at a loss for words, unsure of what to make of the information. It explained nothing and everything at the same time. After a moment of silent hesitation, she eventually asked, "Do you know who he lost?"

"I do, yes." Minerva confessed. "But I'm afraid it's not in my power to disclose." Selena quickly nodded in understanding. This was enough. Anything else she ought to hear was supposed to be from Severus himself, though she wondered if there would come a time their friendship would advance to that point.

"It's getting late, Professor. And I'm all done here, anyway." Selena beckoned, "Why don't we head on down to retire?"

Minerva smiled dearly at her old student. "Of course," With a wave of Selena's wand, she extinguished the flames on the torches, dimming the infirmary with only the moon to provide light. "You know, dear," The professor began as they trailed down the stairs. "I'm quite grateful Albus managed to bring you here this year."

Selena chuckled, "Why?"

"Well, for the last decade of Severus working here, he's never had any familiars before." The Mediwizard looked at Minerva with subtle confusion. "You must think; he has me! And he does, yes, but I'm more like his mother than his friend. Me and Albus, we're like doddering godparents to him." She quipped, causing Selena to laugh briefly. "When you arrived, and when you both began getting along—oh, the joy I've felt!"

"Admittedly, he's not as boring as he appears to be." Selena kidded. "But I am really pleased we're acquainted."

"Oh, he may not show it, dear, but he's quite pleased to have met you too." Minerva added. "Severus' life is too deep into the dark, and his sources of light are only few..." She sighed wistfully. "I'm glad you're one of them."

"Am I, really?" Selena said under her breath, quietly reflecting that it's only been two months since their acquaintanceship began. She didn't mean for Minerva to hear her mumbles, so she was surprised to earn a motherly rub on the shoulder from her.

"What? You don't believe me?" Said the professor before knowingly pointing at the raven that was waiting in front of Selena's chamber door. It bore no vial this time, just a note that read:

I am gravely appreciative of your constant patience with me, Miss Stellifer .

— S.S.

With a growing smile, Selena flipped the note in case there was anything on the back just like the last one. She wasn't wrong.

So, before you bombard me with your assuredly abiding interrogation tomorrow, I took the potion.