A Rose in the Wind Thanks to Luther Vandross for this chapter's title.

A Rose in the Wind

Ch 7 Can I Take You Out Tonight?

Madame Pomfrey was in a mad rush after Harry ran in with the news. She had warming potions, blankets, hot water bottles, and warm washcloths all ready to go. Harry sat back and waited, not ready to go to class yet. Madame Pomfrey allowed him to stay as long as he helped. Harry was then put to work preparing a bathtub of water in the bathroom. Just then Snape came through the door with a frozen Aurelia.

Harry watched as Madame Pomfrey told him to place her on the table. She slipped a hot water bottle under her feet while Snape placed one under her neck. She then tied hot washcloths around her ankles while Snape did the same around her wrists. They then covered her in blankets and Snape lifted her head up so he could tilt it back while Madame Pomfrey poured a warming potion down her throat. She closed her mouth and Snape massaged her throat until she had swallowed it all. They then proceeded to rub her all over.

Colour began to flow back into her skin as she began to warm. Snape breathed a heavy sigh and sat down into a chair next to her. He reached out and held her hand, rubbing it with his fingers.
"What happened Severus?"
"I'm guessing she went walking last night and it started raining and she stopped to wait it out and fell asleep."
"Why would she go out walking that late at night?"
"Don't ask....believe me...its all my fault. I'm so stupid." He shook his head.
"Well....I guess you two will have a lot to talk about. Just don't be your usual self this time. She wont be strong enough to take it."
"I don't plan on it."
"Are you going to stay here?"
"yes."
"Then, when her water bottles get cold replace them ok? I need to go check on some things. I'll be back. If anything happens send someone to find me."
He nodded and she left passing Dumbledore on the way out.

"Is she alright?"
"Yes Albus...any longer and she wouldn't have made it." said Pomfrey.
He nodded and entered the room.

"Severus?"
"Yes headmaster..."
"I've cancelled her classes for the day and Ill watch yours for you if you wish to stay."
"Id be very grateful if you would."
"I will then. Look Severus, I normally wouldn't get into your personal life but I think you two are very alike. You're both stubborn and have a bitterness all your own.
Don't be afraid she'll be ashamed of you. Something tells me she would understand all too well. Don't be afraid to talk to her."
"Thank you...Ill try."

He turned his head back to Aurelia after Dumbledore left and let his hand move an errand strand of hair from her face. Harry then moved from the bathroom.
"Professor.."
"oh hello Potter. Thank you again."
"No thanks necessary. I just want you to know that you have my word that I wont tell anyone what happened."
"Not even your little friends?"
Harry shook his head.
"Why? Why would you keep silent for me?"
"Look Professor, we've never gotten along but I don't really hate you and I just don't think this is anyone's business but hers and yours. If people ask where I was this
morning I'll tell them you had me running errands for you or something while you came to see the assistant head of Slytherin who got sick."
"ok Potter. Since you're doing all of this for me I'll make a deal with you. I'll try to not to be as mean to you and the other Gryffindors, fair?"
"Fair." said Harry as he turned to leave.
"And don't tell anyone I said that." replied Snape as Harry left.

Aurelia slowly fluttered open her eyes and felt very cold. She suddenly didn't know where she was. She looked over and saw Snape asleep, his hand in hers and his head resting next to it on the bed she was in. She then recognized it as the hospital wing. She shivered a little which stirred Snape.
"oh, I'm sorry. I must have fallen asleep." He picked up his head and looked at her.
"How are you...are you ok?"
"I'm cold."
He then noticed his hand was still in hers and slowly pulled it away to pull the blankets up around her.
"Drink this."
He held a warming potion to her mouth as she drank. She could feel the liquid warmth flow through her instantly.
"How's that?"
"Much better." she breathed.
"what happened to me?"
"I was hoping you could tell me."
"The last thing I remember is walking through the forest in the rain and sitting down for a minute to rest. I guess I fell asleep."
"Yes and when you didn't show up at breakfast I got worried and Mr. Potter and myself went looking for you and found you in the woods covered in snow."
She breathed in sharply.
"You were all blue and you weren't moving...I thought...I thought..."he started to stammer as she clasped his hand.
"What...its ok...its ok. I'm ok." she soothed.
"If I hadn't said those evil things to you, you wouldn't have gone out in the first place. I'm sorry. I was going to apologize this morning at breakfast. I didn't mean what I said. I didn't mean to see you cry before. I didn't mean to hurt you. And you almost died." he looked at her in despair.
"But I didn't. Look, it's not your fault. I was the stupid one to go out in the rain. I just couldn't understand why you couldn't tell me."
"Well we have all day and if you really want to listen to me Ill tell you everything, if you'll tell me."
"Of course. So I'm guessing we're friends again."
"yes we are. Let me help you up. There's a bath in there for you to take and while you do that Ill get you some dry clothes.
"ok."
He helped her to her feet and when she almost fell he caught her and steadied her.
"How did I get back here anyway?"
"I carried you."
"All the way from the forest? Your poor back!"
"Ill be fine. Here-"
He helped her into the bathroom and moved the towels closer to the tub.
"I'll be right back and Madame Pomfrey should be back shortly as well. If you need anything let us know."
"I will." she replied before closing the door.

Snape hurried back with the warmest clothes he could find in her closet.
He had Madame Pomfrey take them in to her while he sat outside and waited. When she came out she was full of color and she smiled.
He quickly went over to her and held her arm as she walked.
"Where are we going?"
"Well, since the students are in class, my room is out. We could go to either the Slytherin common room or yours, whichever you wish."
"mine. I need the comforts of home, in a sense."
"Alright."
He crooked his elbow to her and she put her hand through it and leaned on him for support.
"Remember to keep warm dear." said Madame Pomfrey as they left.

As they settled in her room she lay on her couch and he pulled up a chair next to her.
"So where do we start?" she inquired.
"Well I guess Ill start by showing you this." He rolled up his sleeve and showed her his Dark mark.
She gasped.
"This is what you couldn't tell me about? Oh Snape. Why not?"
"Its not something I'm proud of. I killed so many people. Even though I changed and Dumbledore accepted me and helped me I'm still ashamed of what I did and I thought you'd be ashamed of me. I felt so alone after that and I accepted it because I thought no one could love me."
"Why? Its something in the past, its obvious you're not a death eater anymore."
"Yes well, I'm not, but Voldemort still thinks I am. I'm a double agent for the ministry and Dumbledore."
She nodded in understanding and reached out to touch it.
"It still hurts you. Just like everyday my past hurts me. I fell in love with a man 2 years older than me when I was 16. He said he loved me too. I always told him how I dreamed of the perfect love and how I wanted my noble prince to come a take me away from my sorrows. For I while I thought he was him. But, he left me saying I was only a girl and he wanted a woman. Ever since then it was like a curse. Every person treated me the same way. Just a girl they could toy with and get rid of when
they had had their fun. So I always felt alone. My parents were killed when I was younger so I had no one to love me and I was just alone. No one ever really loved me. They all just used me. It was as if I was worthless and a joke at my expense."
He reached out and held her hand.
"So I dance. I dance it all away. I center myself before I do it triggering all my emotions and then dance them away. I dance away all the sadness and the hurt and the anger until all I have is the happiness."
"I just push people away. I act cold and mean and ugly so people wont ask questions and make me relive what I have done. I make myself believe its a solution but inmy heart I know its not." Snape replied.
"No it isn't. But I understand where you are coming from. We aren't so different, you and I."
"I know." he sighed.
"Look, no one expects you to change overnight. It takes time. You have to ease your way into change. Start small. Don't be as snide sometimes or hold your tongue for once when you want to insult someone. Little things."
"Then we both have things to work on. I'm willing if you are."
"But of course!" she laughed.
And to her surprise he laughed too.
He suddenly made a grunting noise and put his hand to his back.
"I told you....here turn around."
He positioned the chair to where he was straddling it with his back to her. She then proceeded to massage his lower back.
He murmured a little and leaned into it.
"Hmmmm, I have a proposition for you."
"Ooh I'm all jello in anticipation." she smirked.
"Would you be so kind as to escort me to the Yule ball next weekend and accompany myself and the students on a shopping outing tomorrow?"
"Why Professor Snape, I think it's a date." she winked.
They both laughed and proceeded to talk and stay warm all day.