Faint whispers reached Snape's ears. After several moments, they formed into words and sentences, indistinguishable in all but form. They were words he knew, but could not concentrate enough to understand them. They were soothing, nonetheless, in their cadence and volume. They moved nearer, then further away. No. Two Voices.
"… shame…danger…"
"Harry… tower… sleep…"
"… recovering…"
"… death… Ministry…"
Death? Am I dead? No. Not me. Can't move. Alive. Who?
"Albus… office… Colber…"
Colber? Colberson. Medea. In Albus' office. No. Impossible. Why? A knife. My face. He cut my face. Jaken. Jaken cut me.
You'll bleed to death if you don't let me stop the bleeding.
My shoulder. The knife. Pain.
Murder? I'm not dead. Did I kill?
No. Never. Never.
Medea.
She is already lost to us… Let someone help you…
Remus. Helping me.
Lost? Where is she? She's with Albus. No. Why not?
Cold. So cold.
Vision blurry. Am I drowning?
She's there, behind Remus. Let me see her.
My blood is all over. On her clothes.
The knife.
Oh god.
"Lost."
Lupin spun around. He caught Madame Pomfrey's eye. Snape's voice. Was he waking?
He stepped around the bed. Snape's eyes were still closed, but his lips were moving.
"No."
It was a whisper, but Lupin heard it. He leaned down toward the professor as Pomfrey laid a wet cloth on his forehead.
"Severus?"
Remus. Helping me.
Am I still in her room? Am I bleeding to death?
Let me go.
"Severus, can you hear me? Are you awake?"
"Professor Snape, squeeze my hand if you can hear me." Pomfrey slipped her fingers into Snape's hand, waiting for the slightest movement. Nothing.
She examined the cuts on his face. They had been shallow and would leave barely noticeable scars once the redness subsided. She pulled his gown down far enough to examine the two and a half inch scar on his left shoulder. It was healed, but still very red. Her fingers touched the area gently, but it was marked by a sharp intake of breath.
I hurt.
When will it be over?
"Poppy," Lupin called softly.
Madame Pomfrey lifted her eyes to where Lupin was looking. Snape's eyes were fluttering as if he was trying to open them.
Medea?
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
I couldn't save you.
I love you.
Don't leave me. Not again.
Pomfrey wetted Snape's dry lips with a cloth. He was trying to speak.
But was he conscious?
"Medea."
Lupin tipped Snape's head so he could see him more fully.
"Severus, open your eyes. Will yourself. Open your eyes," he prodded gently.
Snape's eyes fluttered again, as if he was trying to look into the sun. Madame Pomfrey extinguished the lights around him so his bed was cast in shadow. His eyes opened slowly, then closed again, then opened weakly. Lupin peered down at him, worry creasing his forehead.
"Professor Snape?" Madame Pomfrey leaned over him. "Can you hear me?"
Snape's eyes slid down to Pomfrey, then closed.
"Professor?"
"I hear you, Poppy," he replied, his voice dry and raspy. His eyes opened again. "I'm here."
"Oh, thank Merlin," Pomfrey exclaimed. "We were nervous for you. Remus, inform Professor Dumbleore-"
"No," Snape said sternly. "Remus, what happened-"
"Severus, this isn't the time."
"Tell me. Medea. She's- gone?"
Lupin laid his hand over Snape's.
"I'm sorry, Severus. We could not save her. Her wound was fatal."
"I know," he said softly, his eyes closed. "I knew. I had to hear you say it." He lay silently for a moment. "Where's her brother?"
Lupin and Pomfrey exchanged a look, unsure whether they should tell him.
"Is he in Albus' office?"
"He is."
"Help me there."
"Professor Snape," Pomfrey broke in, "I cannot allow you to move from your bed. You are much too weak to walk to his office, let alone to sit through an interrogation."
"Help me, Remus," he repeated, ignoring Pomfrey. "I have to be there."
Lupin glanced toward Madame Pomfrey, then down at Snape. His mind told him no, but if he were in the same position? Lupin reached down to help Snape up. He pulled him into a sitting position and allowed the vertigo to pass. Pomfrey threw her hands into the air.
"Don't mind me," she exclaimed. "I'm just the doctor. It's not like I'm expected to know what I'm talking about." She turned on her heel and stalked away. The professors could still hear her ranting from behind the screen. "Between the staff and the students, everyone is a doctor. Everyone knows better than batty old Pomfrey!"
"We'll take it slow, Severus. You'll let me know if you need to rest."
When Snape consented, Lupin removed his own robe and helped him into it so he would not be in the halls wearing a hospital gown. Then he helped him from the bed and steadied him while Snape gained equilibrium. Together, Snape leaning heavily on Lupin's shoulder, the two made their way toward Dumbldore's office.
At the gargoyle that guards the entrance, Lupin announced, "truffles," and the gargoyle swung open, revealing the moving staircase. They were carried upstairs. From outside the office door, they could hear voices, questions demanded that went unanswered. Lupin knocked, then pushed the door open and entered, Snape still supporting himself on his shoulder.
McGonagall and a dark haired Ministry Agent turned in surprise. Dumbledore stood from behind his desk.
"Remus, what is the meaning of this? Severus should not be out of bed."
"It was at my request, Albus," Snape replied weakly. "I want to be here." Lupin lowered him slowly into an overstuffed chair in the corner as McGonagall watched sadly, but Snape's eyes were trained coldly on Jaken Colberson who sat in bonds across the room.
"I will not speak while that monster is in this room," Jaken sneered.
"You haven't spoken yet, so I see no difference," Dumbldore answered. "Remus," he said, turning to Professor Lupin, "we will speak on this later. This is Seamus Figg, Arabella's son. He has been assisting me in questioning Mr. Colberson."
Figg nodded toward Snape and Lupin, then turned to Dumbledore.
"We're not getting anywhere here, Professor Dumbledore. With your permission, I will give Mr. Colberson a dose of Veritaserum."
Dumbledore nodded and a vile of clear liquid was revealed from under Figg's robes. He administered a few drops to an unassisting Jaken. His face went slack, his eyes unfocused.
"I believe we're ready," Figg said, stepping back.