Well, I'm finally getting around to updating this after giving up on hoping for more reviews. But hey, look at the bright side- I got 2 reviews on my last chapter! Not very impressive, but it's a start. Now, on to something that really matters (not that anything ever really matters to me much here as this is just for my own personal entertainment)- I am setting a goal for this month to try to update at least once a week. (please note- I am only in eighth grade and therefor very busy, so don't get your hopes up too high) Now, on with the fanfic.

But first, a disclaimer: I own nothing but Elizabeth Potter-Snape and Jory Snape (who will show up either in this chapter or the next). Don't sue me.

Also, I want to thank my 2 reviewers- Tantz and Tabitha.

Now I'll quit rambling on and start already!

For the Love of Snape

Chapter 3

Severus Snape reached the Hospital Wing in record time, but stopped dead upon reaching the doors. Why did he care? This is Potter, remember? You hate him, he hates you, end of story. Yes, but on a different note, this is your nephew here, who has just tried to kill himself. Argh! Instead of continuing the silent argument with himself, Snape chose a much better course of action: wait until Albus caught up with him and make it look like he was only coming up there because the headmaster was forcing him to.

He hadn't been waiting very long when he saw Dumbledore coming from the direction of the dungeons. He's in pretty good shape for such an old man; but then again, knowing nearly every secret passage in the castle doesn't hurt much either.

"Are you ready?" Dumbledore asked him.

Putting on his most foreboding scowl, he replied, "Yes, I think so." Dumbledore sighed, knowing full well exactly how hard this was going to be on the man.

"Good. Don't worry, he doesn't look that bad," Dumbledore said, noting the absence of self-assurance in the usually confident man's voice.

"What did he try?" Snape asked, curious.

"Overdosed on muggle drugs and slashed his wrists. The two with the most easily obtainable objects. Also two of the quietest ways- undetected until it's too late, more often than not. He'll probably end up with some scars on his wrists, but other than that perfectly fine. Don't know what to expect from him mentally, though…"

As Dumbledore rambled on in lecture-mode, Snape's mind was far away. That's exactly what Lizzie did when she found out about Lily and James. She was successful, though. He's lucky to have such good friends. I know my friends wouldn't have cared less if I didn't write back. But then again, my 'friends' were Slytherins; and I made it a habit to not get around to writing them until weeks later.

He broke from his reverie and tapped Albus on the shoulder. "Can we go now, Professor Incredibly-long-lecture, or must I hear the end of your explanation of ways to commit suicide that I heard after Lizzie…" He broke off in mid-sentence as the thought of his late wife brought back memories- some good, some bad.

"I can't go in there, Albus. It brings back old memories of… her," Snape said, looking paler than usual.

"Do you want to just wait out here, while I go in and check on how he's doing?" Dumbledore asked him, noticing how pale he had gone. Snape nodded as he sat down, his back against the wall, willing the pain of his past to go away. With a look of concern, Dumbledore disappeared into the hospital wing.

* * *

"How is he doing, Poppy?" Professor Dumbledore asked, looking down at Harry. He looked so small, so helpless. That's probably how he feels right now.

"He's got a bit of a fever, and he's horribly malnourished, but otherwise, he should be perfectly fine. Wish I could say that for him mentally, though," said Madame Pomphrey.

"I know. How long should it be before he wakes up?"

"I think he should be awake and bored by sometime early tomorrow morning, judging on prior experiences. Why?"

"I plan on having a therapist come and see him sometime soon. I'll go owl him and say that tomorrow afternoon should be good. I trust he'll be ready by then?" Dumbledore asked questioningly.

"I…" Pomphrey was about to answer when she was interrupted by a moan from the only occupied bed in the wing.

"Where… where am I?" asked Harry Potter warily.

"At Hogwarts, Harry. Professor Lupin brought you here a couple of hours ago. How are you feeling?" Professor Dumbledore asked, worried.

"Like I got run over by a truck and lived to tell the tale."

"That bad, eh? Well, I've never had that experience, but I've heard it helps if you get lots of rest."

"Professor," Harry said, annoyed.

"Yes?"

"Argh!"

"I figured that. Now go to sleep- I have a feeling you'll need it." Dumbledore said.

* * *

A/N: Yay! I got another chapter done! Hope you liked it. Also- I know that Snape seems a little out-of-character. I'm trying to get across the fact that losing his wife, his one-and-only love, was quite an ordeal for him, and he still has issues with it. I think that he is a rather… sensitive person who has become accustomed to hiding his feelings because of the position he is in. He is an okay person around people he trusts, like Dumbledore. Anyway, I'll try to update more often, but I can't make any promises.

For now- V.M.