A/N: Short chapter, but I'm already working on the next one. I've been so busy lately. I've been to Russia, had an interview for MIT, been filling out a half dozen college applications, doing community service, studying for my SATs, sleeping here and there…ugh. And don't even get me started on my computer. I've had to take it in for repair three times in the past month. I almost lost my hard drive (and this fic) the second time. Anyway, enough of my complaining. Here's the fic. Enjoy.
Chapter 7: Catching Up
The stench of the sickly overwhelmed him immediately; Germanus' nostrils contracted as the shocking, festering smell invaded them with full force. A thin white sheet covered the emaciated body beneath, with tubes running in and out like some ghastly alchemy experiment. The only uncovered portion was Severus' face: a bony, pasty skull with shut eyes and thin, grimacing lips. A bandage was wrapped tightly around his forehead while another covered a gash from his left eye to his chin.
Germanus' knees weakened and he quickly grabbed a chair by the bed to sit by Severus' side. He stared for a long moment before tentatively brushing Severus' cheek with shaking fingertips, his mouth feeling suddenly dry and his heart feeling suddenly heavy.
He couldn't remember the last time he had seen Severus asleep. Even while resting he looked like he was in pain, bearing too great a weight on his shoulders for too few years. He slid his hand under the sheet to grasp Severus', and felt a hand that was all knuckles and bone.
A knock on the door made Germanus nearly jump from his chair. He reluctantly let go of Severus' hand and went outside the room. Everyone was staring at him.
Anna grabbed Germanus' hand. "Come on," she said. "We're going to talk to the Headmaster in his office. Let your medics do their work." Germanus looked at Dumbledore, who was looking back gravely. He nodded his assent to Dumbledore, and the three made their way to his office. Germanus couldn't remember feeling so sick in all his life.
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"Seneschals, I regret to inform you that Severus' prognosis is poor. I do wish you had told me that you were bringing your own medical staff so that I could have warned our nurse ahead of time, but nevertheless I appreciate the effort. It has been…ah...difficult for me to find a doctor willing to treat him here," Dumbledore said.
Germanus looked down at his lap, frowning in contempt. Of course Dumbledore would have trouble finding a doctor willing to treat a Death Eater, yet Germanus still felt the urge to crack the skulls of all the doctors that had refused to treat his Severus. "How did this happen?" he asked.
"Severus has been performing tasks for me. One of these tasks put him in great danger, which I now regret. Had I known-"
Germanus looked up. "You put him in a situation where such a thing could happen to him."
"I did. As I said, I regret it."
"Regrets are doing very little for Severus at the moment, Headmaster."
"Germanus," Anna said, "the Headmaster has done his best for him."
"Done his best?" Germanus snorted. "Had he done his best he would have sent Severus back to me years ago!"
"Severus is not a package to be shipped here and there!" Anna said.
"He isn't much of anything at the moment!" said Germanus.
"I-" Anna began. She was cut off by the Headmaster's door being very nearly toppled down behind her. Behind it was a red-faced man gasping loudly for breath, followed by what looked to be law-enforcement officials. Germanus couldn't quite remember what they were called in the United Kingdom. Auroras or some such.
"Ah, Cornelius!" Albus beamed, his arms opened wide. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Head-*wheeze*-master," he puffed. "I'm here to see…*hack*…the Seneschals."
"Ah," Dumbledore said. "Well, here they are." The man's eyes widened in panic and he straightened up immediately. Germanus found him comical; his entire appearance signaled the presence of a fool within. He did not suffer fools gladly.
"Pleasure to meet you, Seneschals," he said, his head bowed in respect as he reached for Germanus' hand, then Anna's. "I am Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic."
Germanus used his well-honed abilities to remain outwardly neutral while he inwardly growled. For a man of such obviously limited mental abilities, the so-called Minister of Magic had moved up in the world much too far.
"Charmed," Anna replied, smiling. "I am Seneschal Ravenspoon of North America. This is Seneschal Snape of Europe."
"S-S-S-Snape?" he sputtered, looking at Germanus in horror. "O-Oh, y-yes, I had quite forgotten." Fudge was quickly losing his color, Germanus noted. He wondered why.
"Yes, well, it has been a pleasure, but I'm afraid that the Headmaster and I have some pressing business we need to discuss," he said in his most practiced sugary-sweet tone. Of course, it didn't fool Anna for a moment, who rolled her eyes as quickly and unnoticeably as she could.
"Oh, but Seneschal!" he cried, "There are so many things we need to talk about!"
"I'm here on personal business," he stated coldly. "I will not talk politics until my brother is fully recovered. Perhaps then, if I am in the proper mood…"
"Of course, of course!" Fudge sputtered. "Take as much time as you need, certainly! I didn't mean to intrude upon your personal affairs! Not at all! I was just-"
Germanus tuned him out from then on, as he always did when lower political figures went into, as Severus had dubbed it when he was younger, "kiss-ass mode". So bitterly he had said it, as if all the molten blood of his heart was sickened by the thought. Germanus had never been so idealistic, had he? There was no one left who would remember. He had merely scolded Severus for using such vile language.
"-so of course, I will take my leave of you, if you so desire," Fudge finally concluded.
"Good. Go then."
Fudge staggered out, bumbling his way through the multitude of civil servants he had brought with him.
"What was that fellow doing here?" Germanus asked after Fudge's departure.
Dumbledore smiled. "You are a celebrity of sorts, Seneschal."
"Celebrity!" he said. "If only my sole function was to prance about while people commented on how handsome I was! Oh, no, I have more to do than that! Celebrity indeed!"
"I meant no offense," Dumbledore said cheerily. "But you already knew that. I realize you're not happy with the situation, Seneschal, but aside from what you've already done there simply isn't anything to do about it. We must wait and hope that Severus pulls through. For my part, I too am a celebrity with a job to perform. I must find another Potions professor, hopefully only for the interim."
"Potions professor? Is that what Severus teaches here?"
Dumbledore looked at him in surprise. "Why, yes. Didn't you know?"
"They haven't contacted each other for decades," Anna said. "Not for anything."
"I had my reasons," Germanus said, looking away. He fingered his eye patch.
"Of course," she said, crossing her arms. "You always do. Will you have difficulty finding a replacement, Headmaster?"
"Alas, yes. Severus is uniquely qualified for his position. We have always had top scores in Europe for Potions on the N.E.W.T.s and O.W.L.s since he became the Potions master. His methods are questionable to some but clearly they have some positive effect, and he knows his subject better than anyone else I've ever met."
"I'd volunteer myself, but I'm sure the first years know more about Potions than I do. It was never my best subject," she said.
"Now Germanus, on the other hand," she continued, "excels at it. He's always criticizing our doctors on how they prepare their healing tonics. Must be a family trait. Perhaps he…" she trailed off, turning towards him and giving him one of those smiles of hers that always meant trouble for whomever received them.
Dumbledore looked up at him hopefully. "I would never ask, Seneschal, but it would be an immense help if you could. Poppy has had to fill in for the fifth and seventh year classes because they have to be prepared for their exams, and it takes her away from her work in the Hospital Wing…"
Germanus ground his teeth. The manipulation! This Dumbledore was as good at it as he was! How could he possibly turn down the chance to free the nurse so she could attend more effectively to Severus! And the Headmaster knew it.
"I would be honored to help out," he said, his smile showing a few too many teeth. "What a wonderful idea, Anna. I'll have to thank you for it later."
"Always a pleasure," she grinned.
Him, a teacher? He hated children. He was horrible with them. He couldn't teach to save his life.
But he could to save Severus'.
