Eyes closed, Jane tried to imagine what being blind would be like. For the moment, it was not so bad. She was in her hospital bed, after being delivered by Rosmerta, and it was nearly dark by her estimation. Madam Pomfrey had tested her eyesight, and told Dumbledore in dismay that Jane was certain to lose it.
Speaking of Madam Pomfrey; Jane glanced over at the office and was pleased to see the light was not on. That meant the nurse was out somewhere. That also meant that Jane could do what she had been wanting to do all day: visit Severus.
Slipping out of bed, she crept, barefoot, over to where his bed was. Without any students around, Madam Pomfrey had forgone the bed curtains. However, with her sight failing rapidly, Jane could not see him well enough to know that he was going to be all right.
Upon reaching his bedside, Jane sat in a chair, unaware that the same chair had been occupied by Dumbledore, Hagrid, McGonagall, and Sprout. She bent over to get a better look at him. His shirt, or rather, what was left of it, had been removed. Even in the dim light, Jane could see the harsh new scars from whatever implements they had whipped, stabbed, and prodded him with.
Slowly, frightened that he might awaken, Jane reached out a hand and touched his cheek. He stirred briefly, but kept his eyes closed. Lower lip trembling, Jane slowly climbed into the bed with Severus. She held his arm, almost the only part left untouched. Noting a brand shaped like a snake, Jane traced it lovingly with a finger.
It was not fair. He should never have been in that situation. And he should not have this stupid mark on his arm. Jane kissed his brand tenderly, the way her mother had once kissed a scrape on her knee.
"Jane?" his weak voice asked. Turning her eyes up to see his face, Jane saw him smile. That smile she had been praying to see before she lost all sight. With a sob of relief, Jane held his arm tighter, nuzzling her nose against it. She knew it might not be very long before he fell asleep once more, and so she forced her aching body upright.
"Jane," he murmured when he saw her face. Gently, she traced a new scar on his face. All of this was because of her. Because Voldemort had thought she would need persuading, and he had not realized that Jane refused to be his tool.
"It's all right, Daddy," she told him softly. "Just sleep."
Watching his eyes close, Jane placed a tender kiss on his nose. He would have told her off for that before this. Later, he most likely would tell her off if she tried that again. Suddenly tired herself, she laid back down at his side. It was darker now; she doubted she would be able to see when she woke up again. That did not matter; she had her wish. She saw him smile, and that would be her own secret treasure.
Speaking of Madam Pomfrey; Jane glanced over at the office and was pleased to see the light was not on. That meant the nurse was out somewhere. That also meant that Jane could do what she had been wanting to do all day: visit Severus.
Slipping out of bed, she crept, barefoot, over to where his bed was. Without any students around, Madam Pomfrey had forgone the bed curtains. However, with her sight failing rapidly, Jane could not see him well enough to know that he was going to be all right.
Upon reaching his bedside, Jane sat in a chair, unaware that the same chair had been occupied by Dumbledore, Hagrid, McGonagall, and Sprout. She bent over to get a better look at him. His shirt, or rather, what was left of it, had been removed. Even in the dim light, Jane could see the harsh new scars from whatever implements they had whipped, stabbed, and prodded him with.
Slowly, frightened that he might awaken, Jane reached out a hand and touched his cheek. He stirred briefly, but kept his eyes closed. Lower lip trembling, Jane slowly climbed into the bed with Severus. She held his arm, almost the only part left untouched. Noting a brand shaped like a snake, Jane traced it lovingly with a finger.
It was not fair. He should never have been in that situation. And he should not have this stupid mark on his arm. Jane kissed his brand tenderly, the way her mother had once kissed a scrape on her knee.
"Jane?" his weak voice asked. Turning her eyes up to see his face, Jane saw him smile. That smile she had been praying to see before she lost all sight. With a sob of relief, Jane held his arm tighter, nuzzling her nose against it. She knew it might not be very long before he fell asleep once more, and so she forced her aching body upright.
"Jane," he murmured when he saw her face. Gently, she traced a new scar on his face. All of this was because of her. Because Voldemort had thought she would need persuading, and he had not realized that Jane refused to be his tool.
"It's all right, Daddy," she told him softly. "Just sleep."
Watching his eyes close, Jane placed a tender kiss on his nose. He would have told her off for that before this. Later, he most likely would tell her off if she tried that again. Suddenly tired herself, she laid back down at his side. It was darker now; she doubted she would be able to see when she woke up again. That did not matter; she had her wish. She saw him smile, and that would be her own secret treasure.