Title: Minnaloushe part 15

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: Same as before.

AN: Thanks to everyone who has helped me with this story and everyone who has
reviewed it. This isn't the absolute last chapter, there's still an epilog, but this is pretty
much it. I might think about starting a new story sometime, but not for a while. I
think I need to concentrate on teaching for a while.

To KCinlondon, thanks for all your support, your e mail conversations about folk
musicians, and your inspiration through your own wonderful story. Good luck with
your upcoming journey! Oh, and yes, you did pick up a very obscure Red Dwarf
reference. I love Cat!

To Nomad, you stuck through it for 14 chapters! Thanks. And thanks for being so
patient with the cliff hangers. I honestly didn't mean to make every chapter into a
cliff hanger at the end, it just sort of happened, I swear!

To Dogbone7, I don't think this chapter will disappoint you. I know you were a little
worried before.

To Sev's Girl, EssexGirlAnna, Countess Gemina, Adia and everyone else who reviewed,
thank you so much. You made me squeal with delight every time I saw that I got
another review.

If I do decide to write another story, it MIGHT center on Snape and the character
introduced in this last chapter. I don't know where she came from. She wasn't even
planned. She just kind of forced her way into my story, and that's a character that
wants to be written if ever there were one.

Before that I'm going to finish Piper in the Forest. If you like misunderstood brooding
bad guys, you may want to take a look. Sheriff of Nottingham and his ward.

Enough rambling! Enjoy chapter 15!



He was having a very odd dream. He was battling a man with no nose and a man
with no brain. But the man with no nose wasn't there. Instead, he was watching
through a magic mirror. And the brainless man was very clever for having no brain.
Suddenly, two gorillas materialized out of nowhere, pinning him to the ground. the
brainless man began to kick him, and the noseless man laughed from his mirror.

Then it all disappeared. There was nothing; no sound, no school, no people. From
out of nothing floated the ghost of Dumbledore. He looked sad. "You know this is your
fault." He said as he drifted away. Again he was left alone in the darkness. What was
he supposed to do now? Was he supposed to wait?

Something new came out of the dark. A cat, walking on her hind legs and dressed
in a suit of silver armor marched up to him, carrying a pole axe in her paw.

"You are so lazy!" She exclaimed. Her pink nose twitched in irritation.

"What am I supposed to do now?" He asked, surprised at the sound of his own
voice. It echoed oddly, bouncing around the inside of his mind.

"Wake up!"

**********

There was a heavy weight on Snape's chest. That was the first thing he noticed.
The second thing he noticed was the pain. It was everywhere. Of course it was worst
over his right shoulder. Shooting pains radiated from the offending shoulder, running
all down his arm and into his chest. Couldn't I just stay unconscious for a little while
longer?> He let a slight groan escape his lips. Better alert someone to the fact that
I'm awake at least.> He tried to open his eyes, but it was so bright. It took several minutes
of blinking back tears before his eyes adjusted, and he could see where he was.

He was lying underneath a blue sky. His robes were torn in several places. Cuts and
bruises covered his arms and face. His shoulder had been set and put in a sling, but they
obviously hadn't given him anything for the pain yet. Shadow was asleep on his chest.
She looked nearly as battered as he was. Her tail was singed, her fur stuck out at odd
angles, and her left forepaw was wrapped in a bandage.

Memories of the battle were just now filtering into his memory. Obviously they won,
or he wouldn't be alive right now. But how badly were they hit? Were Albus and Harry
safe? Snape had questions that he needed answered. He tore his eyes away from the
blue sky, which wasn't actually the sky. It was the enchanted cathedral ceiling of the
great hall.

All around him there were other witches and wizards lying in cots and makeshift
beds. Some were students, some were strangers. Snape recognized a few as aurors.
Between the rows of wounded moved nearly a dozen witches and wizards in sterile
blue robes. As one witch passed relatively close by, Snape called out.

"My cat and I are in need of some assistance!" His voice was rough and his throat
scratched, but he was relieved to be able to speak at all.

The witch stopped what she was doing and came over to him. She was a young
looking witch with long brown hair, a pale small face and hazel eyes. Snape thought
he might recognize her from somewhere.

She handed him a glass of water and propped his head up so he could drink.
"Professor Snape, what can I do for you?" She sounded a bit nervous. The voice
jogged his memory instantly.

"Ah, Beatrice Weatherby." She was a Ravenclaw student who had graduated a
few years after Snape had become a teacher. "I see you pursued a career in the medical
profession. Good. You were always good at potions, but I always thought you belonged
somewhere where you could help people.

Beatrice blushed slightly at the praise. She knew that it was uncommon for anything
so positive to come out of his mouth. She also knew that it was probably the pain
and confusion from the battle that were talking.

Snape noticed her discomfort and changed the subject.

"My shoulder is hurting quite a bit. I was wondering if you could help with that?"

"Oh, of course!" She nodded timidly. She unfastened the sling and held her wand
over his shoulder, speaking in a low voice. Snape felt warmth spread over the area,
traveling down his arm and over his chest. It was, to say the least, a relief. He allowed
himself a small sigh when she had finished.

"Sorry about that." She said while situating his arm back in the sling. "We didn't
want to work any spells on you while you were unconscious. We were afraid it might
make things worse." She had a pained expression on her face. Apparently things had
been worse for some patients.

Aware of her discomfort again, Snape did the only thing he could think of to distract
her. He changed the subject again.

"Do you have a few moments to answer some questions. I seem not to remember
very much from the battle."

Beatrice looked around the great hall. Things seemed to be relatively quiet, so she
nodded. She tuned away for a second, pointed her want and said "Accio stool." A stool
from several rows away scuttled over to where she stood. Shadow, who was still resting
on Snape's chest, was so alarmed at the fast approaching furniture that she ran underneath
Snape's cot, growling from her hiding place.

Now free of Shadow, Snape tried sitting fully upright. His muscles were incredibly
sore and stiff. He knew from experience that there was no magic that would get rid of
that. Only time could do that. Beatrice saw what he was doing and hastily pointed her
wand at the cot, muttering something that Snape didn't quite catch. The back of the cot
rose up to form a sort of chair back to give him support while he sat.

Snape nodded a thanks and Beatrice smiled in response. "Now, what did you want
to ask?"

"Well, it seems that we won the battle, but what about Dumbledore and Harry Potter?"
Part of him was afraid to hear the answer. If anything happened to them, it was his fault.

The witch smiled gently. "They're fine. Harry is a little banged up. Lucious Malfoy
got hold of him and his friends and he might have really done a number on them if Draco
hadn't gotten in the way."

"Draco?"

"Yeah. I guess he's not made of the same stuff as his father. He saved them. All four
of them were treated and now they're back in their dorm room beds.

"Dumbledore didn't really need any help. He captured more Death Eaters than anyone.
When the aurors showed up, even they were impressed."

"I don't remember the aurors."

"They didn't show up till near the end of the battle. Someone must have sent an express
owl to the ministry when the school was first under attack. A bunch of aurors and medical
personnel apparated to the edge of the forest, but it took us a while to get through the forest."

From somewhere underneath Snape's cot came an annoyed squeak. Shadow had been
under there for five whole minutes and no one had paid her any attention. "Get up here, you
stupid cat!"

Shadow poked her head out from under the cot, the jumped up onto Snape's lap, purring loudly.

Beatrice laughed at the sight of Snape and his cat, but a stern look from Snape made her stop.

"How long was I out?"

"We don't know exactly. The battle lasted around four hours. From what we could piece
together, the attack started around seven in the morning. We arrived at about ten and it took
another hour to get things under control. It's quarter past four now, so you've been out
anywhere between five and eight hours."

Could she be anymore thorough with her answer?> Snape wondered.

His next question was one that he really didn't want to ask, but he needed to.

"How severe were the...damages."

Beatrice paled at the question. "It...it could have been much worse." She stammered.
Snape noticed a twitch in her jaw muscles and unshed tears in her eyes.

"One auror was killed. No teacher's were killed, but Professor Trelawny is in very serious
condition. Th-three students were killed and there are five o-others in very s-serious condition."
Her voice broke at that. Something had happened, and she had been blocking it. Snape
recognized the condition; throw yourself into your work and hope that the pain never reaches
you. The only problem was the pain always got to you, one way or the other.

Snape remained silent. Whatever Beatrice was about to say, needed to be said. "Did...did
you know I have a younger brother going to Hogwarts? His name's Peter. He's nine years
younger than me... a seventh year." Snape knew exactly who she was talking about. He was
another Ravenclaw and he was in his advanced potions class. The boy was a genius as far as
Snape was concerned.

"They're...they're not sure..." She took in a deep shuddering breath and tears started
cascading down her face. "They don't know if he'll ever wake up."

Snape closed his eyes. A little voice deep inside reminded his It's your fault. It's all your
fault.>

Not now!> He answered. He forced his own doubts away and opened his eyes when he
felt Shadow shift her weight. She stood up and jumped from his lap to Beatrice's. After several
of purr therapy, Beatrice's breathing slowed and she calmed down a bit.

"Of course, the Death Eaters had it much worse. Fifty were captured, and seven killed.
They're taking the ones we caught to Azkaban as we speak."

Snape snorted.

"What?"

"It just figures. We win a loosing battle; everyone gets to watch the last few Death Eaters
run with their tails between their legs; and I'm only awake for the part where I get beaten within
an inch of my life." Beatrice smiled slightly.

"I think you could use some rest now." Snape said. He tried to make his voice gentle, but
it came out like a croak.

Beatrice looked around. "It's not too busy. Maybe I can take a short nap."

"That's a good idea. And if you don't mind, I think I'll finish my recovery in my own
chambers." He rose painfully to his feet. The witch moved to return Shadow to him, but he
stopped her with a gesture.

"She looks comfortable where she is. When she's ready, she knows the way to my chambers.

With that, he made a slow, exhausting journey to the cold damp dungeons.

Wasn't I planning on sleeping late this morning?> He thought wearily as he left the great hall.