Thank you, again, for the reviews! You are too kind ;) Here's another chapter, as I promised. I'm already planning what will happen in the next…

'Just one more minute' never is enough

I was really tensed as I took my seat in the dungeons. Ron was being very careful about what he said to me, and I noticed Harry was giving him significant looks and winks constantly.

Severus was just in time. I mean, really just in time. He had to catch his breath for a moment, it seemed, before being able to speak.

"Page 411," he said briefly, and all of the students did as he said. It was a photograph potion—One we had done before already. I carefully put up my hand.

"What?" he asked annoyed.

"We've done this one a month ago, sir." I said, smiling pitifully.

"So what?" he barked. "This important potion requires certain skills that can only be learned by a lot of practice."

I highly doubted the importance of the potion, but decided to keep the comment for myself.

"When you're done, bring me the potion and get lost." he said, sitting down behind his desk.

While making the potion, I couldn't help but constantly glance at him. He was looking so stressed, and so exasperated by every noise he heard, that I really began to worry. Was his headache still bothering him?

I doubted if he had told Dumbledore about those pains. Severus didn't want any help from the Headmaster. He thought Dumbledore had helped him enough by not only forgiving him, but also offering him a job on his own school. Severus on his turn had spied on  Voldemort, no matter how he had hated to work for the Dark Lord again. Now Voldemort was defeated, and Severus didn't do anything in return anymore, he refused all the help Dumbledore offered.

I helped Neville with everything; from cutting his ingredients into very small pieces ("Really, Hermione, you're almost pulverizing them!"), to cleaning his cauldron for him. I thought it was extremely odd Severus didn't notice.

So, when everybody had already finished their potions, I hadn't even begun. Me it took only 5 minutes to make it, and when I was ready, I walked to Severus' desk where he was working on some pieces of parchments.

"So, how are you..?" I asked worriedly. With a jerk he lifted up his head. You see he was tensed.

"I'm perfectly fine," he answered coolly, taking over my potion and observing it quietly. "Approved." He put the bottle away with the other potions of the students.

"You're not looking much better than yesterday, you know." I said carefully, and before he could reply I quickly added, "Are you sure you don't want to see Madame Pomfrey?"

"I think I can decide for my own whether I'm sick or not, thank you very much." he responded grumpily. I had expected something like that, but didn't give up.

"I'm sure Dumbledore won't mind when you take a day off…" I said, trying to catch his gaze. This time, there was no reply.

"Severus, you said you've been having these headaches since You-Know-Who has been destroyed. Don't you think that is weird? You really need to be examined!" No answer again. I sighed impatiently.

"These headaches are like rotten hell, and you're getting them more often. It's necessary that--"

"For the last time: I don't need a student telling me what I should do!" he shouted, so suddenly, and so loud, that my eyes spontaneously started to burn.

Maybe he just wanted to get rid of me, or perhaps he saw my watery eyes and couldn't stand them—maybe then, there was still hope?—but he finally stood up and let out an exasperated sigh.

"Alright, I'll go see that woman. Now get moving to your next class."

It was brief, but I was satisfied. I smiled, although it was more a grin,  muttered a "Thank you," and ran out of the dungeons.

*~*~*

After his classes, Severus Snape went to the Hospital Wing. Poppy was busy with some girl that had apparently broken her leg at a Quidditch game, so Severus had to wait, and it gave him the opportunity to look through the room. He kind of loathed everything here. The white walls, the downy beds, the flowery curtains, the typical scent of hospital, and especially the woman who was running everything.

He and Poppy had once had a quarrel—or as Severus called it; a disagreement—about the flu. Poppy had the opinion you could fight it the best with all sorts of medicine, but Severus thought she wasn't aware of the dangers that certain potions could have when they were drunk right after each other, and said she wasn't responsible enough. Of course Poppy had been furious, and ever since then, the two hadn't liked each other. Severus had never bothered; All his illnesses had he cured with his own potions.

Finally the woman was ready, and the girl left.

"Hello," Severus said, when Poppy didn't show any initiative.

"Good afternoon, Severus." The woman responded in a tone that Severus didn't like at all. "What's bringing you here?"

Severus didn't want to tell this woman anything, but he remembered his promise. "I'm having—" He hesitated. Why was he doing this? Why was he showing his weaknesses to someone he didn't like and trust at all?

"—headaches.. Someone advised me to get some medical help." he then said.

"Really?" Poppy called. "Well, sit down and let me examine you, then."

Severus looked at her in horror. "I'm not going to sit down." He said like he was being asked to sit in a litter bin. "I just want you to find out where those pains come from."

Poppy impatiently put her hands on her hips. "Either you sit, or you leave."

Severus was about to say in that case he would leave, when there was a knock on the door. Severus felt a shock go through his veins as Hermione entered. She greeted both Poppy and Severus as she sat down on a chair next to the window to wait. Poppy turned to Severus again.

"So, what will it be?"

Severus scowled at Hermione who was watching them curiously. He couldn't leave now she was here. What a clever thing to do for her. Sighing deeply, Severus sat down on the soft bed and let Poppy do all sorts of tests, while he answered questions reluctantly.

It seemed to take hours, and it was a good thing there weren't any emergencies that afternoon, because Severus wouldn't have enjoyed waiting even longer.

At last, she was done.

"And?" Severus asked, extremely irritated. Poppy let out a sigh.

"Well, I'm not entirely sure, but I think, as it has been troubling you since You-Know-Who's destruction, that it might be an result of the Cruciatus curse. You said you've been under it for several times during fights with other Death Eaters, and there are cases known who've been through the same, and who are having similar symptoms. The pain may even increase, and there may possibly be—"

"NONSENSE!" Severus suddenly burst. His fists were clenched, and his teeth gritted. "There's nothing wrong with me, and I knew that even before I came here!" He pulled away the curtains, and shot Hermione a quick glance. Then he stormed out of the Hospital Wing, leaving a very indignant Poppy and a worried Hermione.

*~*~*

I tried to behave normal as Severus left the Wing. Why was he denying there was something wrong?

I saw Madame Pomfrey shake her head, and walked to her.

"Why won't he listen?" I asked, trying not to sound too interested. Pomfrey shook her head again.

"Don't try to understand. Probably thinks he's untouchable."

I knew how wrong she was. Severus had always been very realistic, but it didn't seem like a good idea to comment that.

"So, what may possibly be as well?" I asked curiously.

"Long-term results, such as heart diseases, memory loss, etc. They are working on a medicine, but it's a heavy method, and takes some time to take affect. And then still it doesn't guarantee you will be healed completely."

I swallowed. Heart diseases? Memory loss? There was suddenly an annoying beeping noise in my head that made it impossible for me to hear or think anymore, though I was aware that Pomfrey was saying something to me.

"Excuse me, what were you saying?" I asked, extra loud so it might drive away the noise. It helped, though Pomfrey looked at me surprised.

"I asked what's wrong with you, as I assume you didn't come here for nothing, did you? Something with your ears, perhaps?"

"No, of course not." I said absently. "My stomach was troubling me, but it's acting completely normal already, so I guess I'm leaving now. Bye."

With this, I hastily left the room.

*~*~*

Sorry this is a bit short, I cut a scene, because it would kinda ruin the whole story… See next chapter for a bit more info on that.