I was so worried I wouldn't be able to write another chapter before I left this weekend (I have an interview in TN for a scholarship).  But lo and behold, I woke up this morning to a SNOW DAY (sometimes I can't help but love living in Michigan).  Since I had so much time on my hands, what else did I do but write!  Just for you!  YEAH!

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Insightful Recognitions

The sun was once more shining its brightest as Reign slid back into the sheets of her hospital bed and laid her head on the pillow.  She was so tired—physically and emotionally.  But she had realized something when she had been with her father for that very short period of time, and her suspicions had been confirmed when she had waken and spoken to Severus. 

She did love him, but it was a love most humans were not aware of.  They, too, possessed this deep admiration for others, but they nearly always labeled it as the type of lustful love. 

What it really was was what the elves call admor infinitum, or "forever love".  It is that safe and secure feeling that one gets from being around a specific individual, that feeling of "it feels like I've known you forever", that feeling that the day is worthless and wasted without the presence of that one individual.  It is a longing, a craving to be with them, but it is not love. 

It is a reunion.  A meeting of old souls.  According to the elves, there is only one afterlife, and in this supposed "Heaven" (as humans refer to it) all souls interact with one another—whether it be the soul of an elf with a troll or that of a human with a butterfly.  Everything is interconnected and some souls form special bonds with others. 

It is a rare and joyous occasion when these souls find each other in the realm of the living, but that is just what happened with Reign and Severus.  He would not realize it for quite some time, or he may never realize it, but he would sense it.  He would know in the deepest, most hidden portion of his heart.

An innocent smile played across the elf's lips as she closed her eyes.  Severus lifted himself from his chair to find Madam Pomfrey standing near the curtains with her arms folded across her chest.  She cleared her throat and scowled at the Professor.

            "I'm leaving, I'm leaving," he coaxed her.  Bending over to remove a strand of pure white hair from the face of the elf, he kissed her forehead softly.  "Sleep well, Reign."  Poppy gave him a satisfied nod as he straightened and strode out of the room, then turned back to her office as Reign drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

The next time she awoke she was not alone.  Sitting in the chair next to her bed was Professor Helena Saxon, fumbling with papers as she tried to get herself situated. 

            "Oh Reign, you're awake," she said after noticing the woman's open eyes.  Once she finally got all her documents in order, she reached for her quill sitting in an inkbottle on the table next to the bed.  "I'm so glad you're all right.  We were really worried--" As she reached her stack of homework slipped out from under her, and in the process of trying to catch them she knocked over the ink.  Papers flew everywhere as she dove for the bottle, but she was too late.  The black liquid ended up all over the front of her robes, among other things.  "Bloody hell," she cursed as she knelt down to clean the mess.

Reign snickered from her position.  With a wave of her hand everything seemed to reverse itself.  The ink was pulled from Helena's robes and replaced in the bottle it was meant for, and the papers picked themselves up and flew into Professor Saxon's hands.  Full of amazement, she sat down and thanked the elf.

            "Can't get away from your job, can you?"  Helena grasped the papers firmly in her hand as she reached for the quill for the second time—this attempt more successful then the last.

            "I promised my seventh years I'd have these reports back to them by tomorrow," she said as she began to skim the essays.  "But I also wanted to check on you."  She lifted her head and smiled.  Reign returned it, thanking her for her concern.

            "Who's 'we'?" she asked after a moment of silence.  The professor looked up at her with a vexed expression.  "Earlier you said 'we were concerned about you'."

            "Oh yes…well, they should be here shortly," she replied as a bell rang outside in the hall, signaling the end of classes.  Reign rolled onto her back and attempted to stick her hands under her head.  Her wrists were still tender, however, and she was forced to stare at the ceiling with her hands folded on her stomach. 

Several minutes went by before she heard three sets of footsteps entering the Hospital Wing.  She turned her head to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione come into view.  Ron was holding a bouquet of orchids.

            "These are for you," he said softly, holding them out for her to see.  Then he quickly added, "They're from all of us."  Next to him, both Harry and Hermione shook their heads, and Hermione mouthed, "No they're not," as she pointed to the red-haired, red-faced young man standing next to her. 

Reign laughed and thanked Ron, motioning for them to come further into the room.  Hermione took a seat at the edge of the bed, while Harry leaned against the divider and Ron sat at his feet.  The woman beamed at them, grateful for their company.

            "How long are you going to be here?" Harry asked.  Reign rolled her eyes.

            "With Madam Pomfrey, who knows?"

            "I heard that!" came a strict voice from the end of the wing.  The trio, the professor, and the elf all snickered.

            "Probably not too much longer.  I'm feeling much better."

            "How are those reports coming along, Professor?" Hermione asked.  Helena looked up from her work and grinned.

            "Wouldn't you like to know, Miss Granger?"  The girl looked down at her feet and her teacher laughed.  "I don't think you have anything to worry about, Hermione."  Her head lifted with her spirits and she smiled proudly as her two friends scowled.  From the head of the bed, Reign was laughing.

            "Do these three remind you of anyone?" she asked Helena.  The professor looked thoughtfully at each of her students.  Her eyes widened slightly as she realized whom Reign was referring to.

            "Oh be serious now," she said, shaking her head.

            "I am being serious.  We have the famous one," she pointed to Harry, who frowned slightly, "his faithful sidekick," Ron resorted to smiling when he couldn't tell if it was a compliment or not, "and the know-it-all."  She pointed to Hermione.  The boys laughed.

            "I resent that," Hermione said, crossing her arms.

            "Me too," Helena replied.  The trio stared in awe at her as she leaned back in her chair.  "Wow, you're right.  They even synchronize their reactions like we used to." 

            "Who's 'we'?" Ron asked from the floor.  Helena told them of another famous trio that went to Hogwarts eighteen years ago, and how she was one of the members of that group.  Reign lifted herself up and leaned back against the headboard.  She grinned as Helena told her story.

            "And Reign here was the unofficial fourth member," she finished, pointing to the recovering elf, who chuckled.

            "Wicked," Ron said.  Helena looked to her watch.

            "Goodness, it's getting rather late.  Dinner is almost over."

            "We'd better go, then," Hermione said as she lifted herself from the bed and helped Professor Saxon with her mess of parchment.  They all said their goodbyes, and Reign thanked Ron for the flowers, who blushed and reminded her that they were from all three of them.  Harry was the last to leave.

            "Harry, do you mind staying for a bit longer?  I'd like to speak with you alone."  Ron's body sank as his friend took the seat next to the bed.  After they left Reign folded her hands and draped the curtain of all seriousness over herself.  "How are you, Harry?"  The boy looked at her suspiciously.

            "I'm fine-"

            "No, I mean how are you?  How is your heart?  Your soul?" she paused.  "Your scar?"  Harry looked away.

            "My nightmares are getting worse.  The images of Cedric…my parents…Voldemort, are all becoming more clear…more heartbreaking…and more horrific."  He paused to push a strand of his dark hair from his face.  "And not a day goes by where my scar doesn't hurt."  The elf stroked her chin as he spoke.     

            "You feel it too, then?"

            "His powers are growing."

            "Yes.  He's getting closer and closer to achieving his goals.  The culmination of his power draws near."  She turned to Harry, whose green eyes filled with sudden anxiety.  "What are you planning to do after you graduate?"

            "I'm not sure.  Professor Moody has approached me about becoming an Auror-"

            "Hmm..."

            "And Fudge has offered me a job at the Ministry.  But-"

            "He's an idiot, and you would hate working there."  Harry nodded.  "Have you ever thought about coming back to teach here?"

            "Maybe, but that's really the last thing I would want to do...come back here and do it all over again for the rest of my life."  Reign laughed.

            "That's the opinion most students have," she replied.  "The reason I ask, Harry, is because there is a war brewing—as I'm sure you've heard, or at least felt—and Dumbledore is going to need all the help he can get.  You'd be a perfect asset if you were close to him."  She paused to watch Harry think.  His eyebrows pulled together and his upper lip curled like Snape's did when he was thinking.  But Reign didn't dare tell the boy of the similarity.  "That's just something to think about, though.  You should do whatever it is you really want to do.  There's nothing worse than being stuck doing something you don't enjoy for the rest of your life." 

That signaled the end of their conversation.  Harry rose and thanked her before he left.  Just before he rounded the corner, though, he turned back.

            "Do you think you'll be well enough by tomorrow afternoon?" 

            "Most definitely.  Why?"

            "Well it's Gryffindor versus Slytherin tomorrow at the Quidditch match, and I thought you might like to come and watch."  He looked down at his feet.  "Ron would sure appreciate it," he added, lifting his head and grinning at the patient.

            "Well in that case, I'd love to."  She winked and they both laughed.

Reign sighed as she lowered herself back onto the bed after Harry left. 

That night she dreamt of playing chess with Ron in a field of orchids, and of Severus and Harry laughing and getting along as they surveyed the game.  Just before she awoke, however, the crystal blue sky of her dream darkened as ominous black clouds formed over the horizon and crept toward her and her companions.