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Snape rolled fully on top of Barnes, snugging his head under his chin so he could listen to his heart beat. The healer was more than willing to support the man, continuing to warm the shivers away.
You are going to need an energy feed and a bath, but
not necessarily in that order, Barnes said. Then
something to eat, I'm counting ribs here.
Lupin flung himself on the couch while Dumbledore pulled a chair close to the lounge so he was able to run his hand over Snape, assuring himself he was ok. He wondered how long the Potions Master would tolerate all the maudlin mush' as he called it.
Remus can go find our designated energy donor, he said, then turned to Barnes,
It's easier to have one person as you know.
Definitely cuts down on the confusion and dizziness, Barnes agreed.
I'll run him through the tub before Harry gets here, Dumbledore continued.
If you don't mind, I'll change my robes and write out
a few notes, he turned his attention back to Snape.
You will need complete bed rest for at least a week, the patient growled threateningly.
Which is seven, that's 7 days! Then I'll scan you again
and we'll evaluate how much more time you'll need.
MORE TIME, Snape managed to roar.
Barnes didn't flinch.
Plus you'll need to put on some weight and work on
your energy levels. If I recall you liked those old protein
shakes my father concocted. I'll send the recipes down
to the kitchens and you can have one or two between
meals.
Between meals?! What are you doing, fattening me up
for the Easter feast? Snape stuttered indignantly.
No, no way you'll be ready for that. Maybe Mother's
Day brunch. He gently shifted his hand and tickled the offending ribs. Snape twisted but couldn't escape.
he said chiding him, we want you healthy.
You're too good a person to slowly waste away.
Snape stilled, somewhat embarrassed. Dumbledore took pity on him.
Come, Severus, let's clean you up, he levitated him to the washroom. Lupin grinned at Barnes and disappeared out the door to find Harry. That left the good doctor to change robes and sit quietly at the desk writing out the curses removed and the treatment to follow.
Fawkes the phoenix flew across the room and perched on the desk watching the pen move across the page. When Barnes glanced up the bird looked intently at him from one eye, then the other. He allowed the doctor to gently stroke his chest feathers before settling down. Smiling, he continued writing.
Snape was brought back out, clean, dry, brushed and dressed in leggings. Dumbledore left him on the couch as he went for a sleep shirt and a dry quilt. Fawkes immediately pushed off the desk and settled on the couch against the sleepy man. The bird began piping a curious song while Snape leaned back and gently ran a finger down his head.
Shoo, you silly creature, Dumbledore said warmly as he returned. Fawkes chirped indignantly, then moved to the chair's back to watch the operation. The shirt was slipped on and the quilt wrapped around him.
Don't go anywhere, the older man teased.
He was the recipient of a truly awful glare. Blithely ignoring Snape's ire, Dumbledore crossed the room and sat by the desk across from the doctor.
He found the experience interesting, having always been on the other side.
Just finished, Barnes said, setting down the quill and putting his copies into his folio.
Here are recipes for the shakes and written orders
to rest completely this week just in case he balks. I'll
come back tomorrow to check on him, he should be
more awake hopefully, he smiled as he glanced at the dozing man. Fawkes had shifted onto his lap and had resumed trilling soft lullabies to soothe him. Dumbledore turned and looked at the two of them.
It's strange, he's spent most of his life trying to repulse
everyone he's met and he just can't get the animals to
believe him. Fawkes will hover around him if I allow it; then
there's Fang, Hagrid's hound. He adores Severus.
Barnes started to chuckle, covering his mouth against laughing aloud. Dumbledore watched him trying to control himself and heard Snape stir on the couch. Fawkes trilled then resettled on Snape's side as the man curled down on the couch to sleep.
What is so amusing, Dr. Barnes? he queried. Barnes waved his hand slightly.
Oh, I can't say, he managed to get out. It's rather
private.
Certainly you can, I'm very good at keeping secrets, the older man pursued, leaning forward and dropping his voice.
Barnes finally gained control and pulled the chair closer to the desk, leaning forward also.
You can't repeat this. You just can't!
Dumbledore solemnly raised his right hand,
On my honor as a wizard and Headmaster, he intoned.
Barnes quickly glanced at Snape, assuring himself the man was really asleep.
Well, about 8 years back I had just finished my first
residency and had come home to Hogsmeade to
visit my family. I remember they'd thrown a small party
at the Three Broomsticks and Hagrid had somehow conned
Professor Snape to come into the pub for a drink, Barnes had the good grace to blush slightly.
Hagrid knew I had this hero-worship thingy for him and
thought it would be a treat for me even if the Professor
didn't know exactly what was going on. Anyway, I had a
pet I had rescued from one of the labs at school. A
grindlylow.
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.
Most people would not consider that creature a
pet, much less controllable, he said.
Yes, technically they can't be tamed. But I had reached
an understanding of sorts with this one. It lived in my
rooms at the university hospital in London for the best
part of three months and it seemed perfectly safe and
harmless. It ate out of my hand and would perch on my
shoulder at times while I studied. I had to bring it to
my Dad. He adored all sorts of creatures and I thought
he'd be pleased with it. I couldn't take it to my next
internship, Barnes stopped to take a sip of water and smiled softly.
Dad was intrigued. I had brought it with me into the bar
so Hagrid could see it, too. Grindle had been calm at the
house. I suppose in retrospect we'd been calm and it
was dark at home being the evening and all. So neither
of us could see a problem taking it to the bar.
Anyway, Professor Snape was tucked in at a corner table
watching the festivities.
His normal place, given a choice if he's surrounded by
alot of people, Dumbledore commented.
Yes, I suppose. There were shadows and he seemed to
be enjoying himself. Dad had brought out the Grindlylow and
Hagrid was admiring it when the barkeep dropped a tray
of glasses. The poor thing spooked and took off at a
dead run for the darkest place it could find.
Dumbledore puzzled over the possibilities before realization dawned.
He headed straight for Severus's corner
Not only his corner, but for his robes as well, Barnes started to snicker again.
Oh, not up his robes, Dumbledore stifled a laugh.
Right up and grabbed onto the most convenient anchor
he could find, the Doctor was starting to tear up as he struggled not to laugh aloud.
I've never seen anyone turn such a shade of white before.
And of course the entire bar had begun to roar with laughter.
Together the two men worked on being quiet, although it was very difficult as the image stuck in their minds. Suddenly the doctor stilled and ceased laughing. He reached for his water and sipped at it as he continued to remember that night.
So much for the funny part. My Dad and I ran over to
him; he would not allow us to remove the creature in front
of the entire bar. I tried to talk it out, but me talking to
Professor Snape's crotch, I'm sure you can guess it only
served to cause more laughter and ribald comments.
I remember he sat very still and whispered that it had
bitten him. Of course Dad apparated immediately to the
clinic. Grindlylow toxin is a powerful muscle relaxant and
can be quite dangerous. I levitated him into a private
room, making sure no one followed us in. Hagrid gave me
the cage and wished me luck. Here the doctor stretched himself and sipped at his glass again.
I managed to get Grindle off him. The bite was in a most
embarrassing spot as you can imagine but at least it was
a simple puncture and no tearing at all. I knew Professor
Snape was beginning to panic. It's frightening to feel all
your control slip away. So I pulled him up onto my lap
like I did today.
I come from a long line of healers; I had trained in both
muggle and magic techniques but I had not yet tapped into
the magical side of healing.
You hadn't been able to scan a patient? Dumbledore asked.
No. The power usually manifests sometime in the late 20's
or 30's. I was twenty-five and still didn't know if I were
going to develop the gift or not. But I had this man who
was trying hard not to panic slowly succumbing to the toxin
and my Dad had not returned with the antidote. So I
decided to try calming him, slipping my hand under his robe
so I could touch his chest. It was the most amazing thing,
when I realized I was inside him, seeing' the toxin working
on his muscles, seeing' the entry site. I tried healing the
puncture first and succeeded. Then Dad returned and
injected the antidote. I lay there watching the toxin being
driven out and destroyed. Then I nosed about since the
Professor was so docile and discovered he'd been hexed.
Must have not been able to sleep well for weeks. I loosened
that curse and cast it out, Dad must of wanded it because
it was gone and I was still immersed. At some point Snape
fell asleep with me still reading every system in absolute
awe, Barnes slowly shook his head.
I'd read everything I could on full healers, pestered my
Dad and Grandpa til they would run and hide to get some
peace and quiet when I was home. But nothing prepared
me for the absolute wonder of actually connecting so
intimately with another human being, he smiled softly at the memory.
I don't think Professor Snape went into town and the
bar for at least six months. Not that we didn't try to get
him to come in, mind you.
Dumbledore looked at the doctor curiously,
You are concerned about Severus?
Yes, I suppose so. Occasionally strangers come into
the bar and ask around about him. No one in town gives
out any information beyond that he teaches here. Sometimes
some of the professors share stories about him. The
story about the bogart two years ago was popular for
awhile.
Ah, yes, the green dress and vulture adorned hat,
the headmaster supplied.
Exactly. Sometimes they mention him being ill, and I
don't really enjoy that. Especially when they seem pleased
about it. Pomfrey for instance and Sinistra, she seemed
awfully happy when he was ill recently, he shook himself and finished packing up.
I should be getting back to the clinic. I'll just stop by
tomorrow for a quick look, he stood up and shook Dumbledore's extended hand before walking around the desk and heading towards the door.
Dumbledore turned to take another look at Snape, curled up on the couch with a phoenix roosting on top of him. The bird was still trilling its innocuous little tune allowing its incredible warmth to soak into the sleeping man. He recalled how Fawkes had been the first to trust Snape all those years ago; a lost, angry young man with a terrible secret and no where to turn.
A tap at his door broke his concentration. He waved it open and found himself greeting Harry and Hermione with Professor Lupin close behind.
Miss Granger asked to join us. She's very keen on
learning how to supplement energy, Lupin gave him a lopsided grin. Dumbledore smiled, quietly noting the third was missing. He chose not to mention that at the moment.
Well, this is a school, is it not? Harry has given you the
basics? he led the students over to the couch and motioned for Hermione to take a chair. Snape was carefully levitated and Harry slipped in as his pillow. Fawkes simply opened one beady eye to watch the operation, then resettled. Harry gently ran his hand over the sleeping man's shoulder muttering the charm that would start the energy to flow.
Casting out the remaining two curses was extremely
draining, Dumbledore commented. The doctor has
put Professor Snape on bed rest for the duration of
a week.
Yes, that's 7, s-e-v-e-n, days, Snape growled startling everyone in the room.
Do you ever stay asleep? Harry complained, unconsciously lifting his lip in a slight sneer.
And miss this scintillating discussion? he continued to grumble.
Lupin admonished, you're scaring the students.
Students-s-s-s, PLURAL?! What am I, a damned lab
assignment? He was truly in his element, raging.
Harry snickered, delighted, saying,
Well, you are feeling better, no matter what else.
Snape opened his eyes and spotted Hermione sitting nearby, an expression of extreme curiosity and some fear on her face. He sighed under Harry's touch.
Excuse me, Ms. Granger. I am acting more asinine than
usual. Although the Headmaster can tell you I'm normally
quite caustic and nasty even when I'm on my better
behavior.
I will vouch for that. He's actually doing remarkably well
for him, Dumbledore briefly wondered how he'd acted
after he woke from the grindlylow experience.
Hermione looked from Snape to Harry to Dumbledore and then back to the beginning.
Well, I did try to convince Ron that some of your nastiness
was a cultivated cover. You can't really be so horrid, can
you?
Lupin laughed aloud.
Oh, hell yes! I've known him for practically forever,
Hermione. He's quite nasty, but the heart is true. It's
very hard to see most of the time.
Let me try again, Hermione pulled her right leg up and tucked it under her left, leaning forward.
As students we see you adults as flat characters, your
actions only relate to us. We don't see that there is
more to the world than just us. It's normal for a child and
young adult to be ego-centric. As adults you all realize
people have a base personality, but their actions are
related to many things. So Professor Snape can have a
caustic nature but that doesn't mean he doesn't care. He
cares intensely, he just doesn't act the way another
person might, say like you, Professor Lupin. So if one can
get past the exterior, one can find a kindred soul as
dedicated as Headmaster Dumbledore.
All four men stared at her incredulous.
How old are you? Lupin asked, She nodded with a smug smile.
Say what you will, Snape spat out, but I have spent the
last four and a half years treating you all like shit every
chance I get. He shut his eyes again while Fawkes screeched at him angrily.
Yes, you have, Hermione picked up before the other three stunned individuals could speak.
And some of it has been despicable. But I hasten to
point out on most occasions you had an audience that
included possible informants. As a known Death Eater
you must keep up appearances. It's just easier for you
because you came with a mean, sarcastic streak built-in.
All three men turned their gaze back to Snape who was not responding, merely lying with pursed lips thinking angry thoughts to himself.
This has been a deplorable day, growled the furious man.
I can't feed myself, I can't stay awake, some evil git tries to
get into the only sanctuary I've ever known, I get levitated
from all corners of the room to suit everyone else's desires.
A child from my past comes and tells the infamous Grindlylow
tale, I've been bathed more often than I care to comment on,
I'm apparently not potty trained since I'm always watched in the loo,
and now I'm being psychoanalyzed by a 15 year old witch.
It can't get any worse!
A tap at the door caused everyone's' attention to swing away from him, for which Snape was grateful. Lupin cautiously opened the door and was greeted by Hagrid.
Hullo, hullo. Just thought I'd stop by and leave a
little some'in for ya to enjoy, Professor Snape. I made
it up special for you this morning. He held out a plate full of
Oh, look Severus, Lupin's voice squeaked as he managed to say the words,
treacle fudge.
Damn. I was wrong, Snape turned fully over hiding his face, causing Fawkes to squawk indignantly and the others to laugh uncontrollably.