Chapter Eight
Disclaimer on opening note
The term was drawing to a close and Ruby had many visitors. Oliver stopped by before he left for Christmas with her present.
"It's not much, but I saw it and thought of you."
Ruby opened the box and found a charm bracelet with little potion charms, literally.
"See," he said, "each one holds a little charm you can put in a potion."
"Wow, this is awesome. Really, I've never heard of anything like this before."
"Well, I'm glad you like it," he blushed. "Umm I have to go. You know, break."
"Ok, you can open my present when you get back. I still need Ginny to wrap them for me."
"No problem, and you feel better."
"I will."
It was nice to have visitors. It was nice to actually see people and get caught up with events she had missed. Like the whole ministry inquiry with Hagrid and Buckbeak. Hermione brought her cat, Crookshanks along with her sometimes, because Ron didn't like the cat or something. Ruby really was having a hard time concentrating, especially when she tried to ponder how oblivious she had been to everything going on. She must of read more then she realized.
Ginny was the most frequent visitor of all. She would come down and eat lunch every day with Ruby and would visit everyday after dinner.
"Do you think you'll get better," she asked one time.
"Of course I will. Snape's got an antidote for me. I take it everyday, you know."
"I know. It's just that, well, I looked up the potion that got you here and, well, it didn't make me feel very well." Ginny looked as if she was about to cry.
"Hey now," Ruby said as she pulled Ginny up next to her in the bed and hugged her. "No down faces. I'll be fine. No potion can get down Miss Ruby Kennedy. I'm in potion's mastery, I rock Hogwarts, cause I'm so smart right?"
Ginny laughed, "Yeah. I like it when you talk American muggle."
They both laughed as Professor Snape came in with her next dose of antidote.
"I think you should leave, Miss Weasley. You are in here far too much." He said. Ginny pretended to pout as she left, making Ruby laugh more. "Your next dose." He handed her the glass. She hated it. It made her fell sick every time. "You must be feeling better."
"I always feel better when visitors come. It reminds me that people actually care."
"You thought they didn't care before?" He seemed perplexed by this.
"Hey, you're talking to a girl who's been shuffled from home to home. I need affirmation every once and a while." She smiled at him.
"Hmm, I'll be back tomorrow."
She mimicked him, "Merry Christmas, here's you next dose." He did his little head cock thing. "I'm just kidding. It's Christmas Eve, everyone should be happy: even Potions Masters." She smiled at him.
"Christmas has never been a happy time for me." He turned and left to escape the topic.
Ruby was restless that night as she thought about what Snape had said. How could Christmas be unhappy? Every Christmas was a happy one no matter where she had been. Even when she was under the curse, she had some many other good things happen that it didn't matter. She finally got to sleep in the early morning hours. When she woke, it was about noon. "Tough night sleeping again," asked Pompfrey as she brought a huge tray of food over.
"Yeah," she answered. She hated getting so much food. She still didn't feel like eating much. She ate the bread and a bit of the soup, but the rest of the wonderful feast before her she left.
"You need to start eating more. You'll lose weight and strength," said Dumbledore as he drew up a chair by Ruby's bed.
"I know, but my stomach feels horrible."
"I see. I told Bobby what happened." Ruby's face went pale. She couldn't believe she had forgotten to send an owl to him. "He told me to tell you to keep strong and that your Christmas present would be arriving late."
"Late?"
"It seems he has an extra surprise in store," Dumbledore smiled. "I just wanted to check in with you. It's been boring in my office with out the extra person reading."
She smiled back. "Don't worry. I finished The Princess Bride a couple days ago. So I'll have to find something new."
"How did it end," he asked like a little kid.
"Well it was good, but if you really want to know, you'll have to read it."
He laughed. "Very well, I may have to take you up on that. Happy Christmas, Ruby."
Later that afternoon, the Gryffindor gang came down with Ruby's presents. Hermione got her a travel size potion handbook, Harry got her a set of quills that included a peacock feather, Ron, Fred, and George all went together and got her a beginning mischief kit, and Ginny gave her a necklace made from unicorn hair. Mrs. Weasley had also sent her some treats, but she had Ginny store them for her for later.
When they had left, Madam Pompfrey brought a dinner tray. She tried her best to eat it, but still found it difficult. After that, it was pretty quiet. She had a wait until Snape brought her next dose of antidote. She was about to look at her mischief kit when an owl came into the infirmary. It dropped a box on her nightstand and then went back out. Her name was printed on the top with no sign of who sent it. She opened it and revealed a beautiful moon and star quilt. There was a card on top of the quilt.
"Well," Madam Pompfrey said, "Who sent you this?"
"I don't know." She read the card.
This quilt was made in Hawaii. Maybe it will remind you.
"Remind me of what?"
Madam Pompfrey looked at the card. "Interesting. Want me to help spread it out?" Ruby nodded, still thinking of the card.
Ruby just kept thinking about who would send her something like this, with a cryptic message, and make sure it was from Hawaii. That's when something caught her attention, this was the second year a mysterious owl came at the last minute with a gift for her. She looked up for a moment and noticed Snape slightly down the hallway. He wasn't moving, but she could tell that he had her next dose of antidote. He went to the window, slightly nodded his head, then continued to the infirmary.
"Happy Christmas, Professor Snape," Madam Pompfrey said cordially.
"Likewise," he answered. He came over to Ruby. He didn't say anything, just handed her the glass. She drank it down and handed the glass back. He turned to leave.
"What's the rush," Ruby asked.
"Pardon me?"
"You seem to be in a hurry tonight. Is something wrong?"
"I told you yesterday."
"That Christmas has never been happy for you? Yes, I know. I thought about that all night." There was some awkward silence before Ruby continued. "You can sit down."
"If you are going to try and get me to share my feelings, well you can forget it. My business is not you business."
"I was never one to share feelings, not a big fan of it." He was surprised by this remark. She was a Gryffindor, right? Didn't they believe in honor and sharing? Did they want everyone but Slytherins to be happy? He drew up a chair and sat by her bed. "You see, all my friends, muggle friends that is, who know about where I go to school always say. Ruby how on earth did you get into Gryffindor?"
"What are you talking about?"
"My friends, they call me Sly, as in Slytherin. They always thought I would make a better Slytherin then a Gryffindor. They say I'm too ambitious."
"Why are you telling me this," he asked.
"Well, you didn't want to talk about Christmas and I wanted to talk to you about something else, but I thought I'd prep you with a whole heap of nothing. Shall I continue?"
"I don't think I understand."
"That's the point." He looked really confused. "Ok, example, last year, People wanted me to talk about the whole incident that happened on the roof, but I didn't, so they would talk about something else. Usually something completely useless. Does anyone really know happen that night I dropped of the tower? No, and will they, only if I tell them. I won't know about your problem with Christmas. I'll never know unless you decide to tell me. Forcing you to tell will not give me any information, because you'll hold back."
"I suppose."
"No supposing, it's fact."
"How did they know?"
She was surprised about the sudden change in conversation.
"Your friends at home, how did they know about Hogwarts?"
"Oh, yeah, well, they have some wizarding blood in them from down the line, and there ancestors have passed down stories about different things, like school and quidditch."
"So they think that you should be in Slytherin?"
"Yeah, and I tend to agree with them. I mean, I like my friends in Gryffindor, but Red and gold really aren't my colors." He actually chuckled at this, but quickly stopped himself for being so foolish. "It's ok to laugh sometimes. It makes things less stressful. Why do you think I hang out with Fred and George?"
"I guess I see your point. So what did you really want to talk about?"
"Hmm, oh yeah, the whole real point I had. I wanted to know if you would come and tutor me here since I won't be able to leave for most of the next term. I don't want to fall behind the others." Snape sat and thought about it. "You will be here anyway to give me the antidote." She looked at him hopefully.
"Fine, we will try to continue our lessons here. What about you other classes?"
"I'll have Hermione get my homework for me. If I need help, I can always ask."
Madam Pompfrey came over, "Professor Snape, I know it is Christmas, but Miss Kennedy has not been sleeping. I must ask you to leave."
"Of course." He looked at Ruby quickly said good night and swept out of the room.
* * *
"That was very kind of you, Severus," said Dumbledore as Snape came out of the infirmary.
"I didn't know I was being watched."
Dumbledore smiled. "So how did you get it?"
"Get what?"
"The quilt. You can't fool me, Severus. I saw you send the owl last night."
"That doesn't mean it was me."
"Of course, but, you know what happens when the poison gets worse. The fever and chills. I would not be surprised if it was you."
"I would never single out a student."
"No, but you might an apprentice. She reminds me of another young potions student, though there are the obvious differences. Good night, Severus."
"Good night, Headmaster."
Snape went to his quarters, thinking about what Dumbledore had just said. She just needed some affirmation. It doesn't mean anything. He tried to convince himself of this all night.
*Woot! Long chapter I know. Lots of stuff going on, plus some reminders of the last story, which I found necessary. If anyone has a problem with Ruby's muggle friends, you may be able to take it up with them later in the series.
The term was drawing to a close and Ruby had many visitors. Oliver stopped by before he left for Christmas with her present.
"It's not much, but I saw it and thought of you."
Ruby opened the box and found a charm bracelet with little potion charms, literally.
"See," he said, "each one holds a little charm you can put in a potion."
"Wow, this is awesome. Really, I've never heard of anything like this before."
"Well, I'm glad you like it," he blushed. "Umm I have to go. You know, break."
"Ok, you can open my present when you get back. I still need Ginny to wrap them for me."
"No problem, and you feel better."
"I will."
It was nice to have visitors. It was nice to actually see people and get caught up with events she had missed. Like the whole ministry inquiry with Hagrid and Buckbeak. Hermione brought her cat, Crookshanks along with her sometimes, because Ron didn't like the cat or something. Ruby really was having a hard time concentrating, especially when she tried to ponder how oblivious she had been to everything going on. She must of read more then she realized.
Ginny was the most frequent visitor of all. She would come down and eat lunch every day with Ruby and would visit everyday after dinner.
"Do you think you'll get better," she asked one time.
"Of course I will. Snape's got an antidote for me. I take it everyday, you know."
"I know. It's just that, well, I looked up the potion that got you here and, well, it didn't make me feel very well." Ginny looked as if she was about to cry.
"Hey now," Ruby said as she pulled Ginny up next to her in the bed and hugged her. "No down faces. I'll be fine. No potion can get down Miss Ruby Kennedy. I'm in potion's mastery, I rock Hogwarts, cause I'm so smart right?"
Ginny laughed, "Yeah. I like it when you talk American muggle."
They both laughed as Professor Snape came in with her next dose of antidote.
"I think you should leave, Miss Weasley. You are in here far too much." He said. Ginny pretended to pout as she left, making Ruby laugh more. "Your next dose." He handed her the glass. She hated it. It made her fell sick every time. "You must be feeling better."
"I always feel better when visitors come. It reminds me that people actually care."
"You thought they didn't care before?" He seemed perplexed by this.
"Hey, you're talking to a girl who's been shuffled from home to home. I need affirmation every once and a while." She smiled at him.
"Hmm, I'll be back tomorrow."
She mimicked him, "Merry Christmas, here's you next dose." He did his little head cock thing. "I'm just kidding. It's Christmas Eve, everyone should be happy: even Potions Masters." She smiled at him.
"Christmas has never been a happy time for me." He turned and left to escape the topic.
Ruby was restless that night as she thought about what Snape had said. How could Christmas be unhappy? Every Christmas was a happy one no matter where she had been. Even when she was under the curse, she had some many other good things happen that it didn't matter. She finally got to sleep in the early morning hours. When she woke, it was about noon. "Tough night sleeping again," asked Pompfrey as she brought a huge tray of food over.
"Yeah," she answered. She hated getting so much food. She still didn't feel like eating much. She ate the bread and a bit of the soup, but the rest of the wonderful feast before her she left.
"You need to start eating more. You'll lose weight and strength," said Dumbledore as he drew up a chair by Ruby's bed.
"I know, but my stomach feels horrible."
"I see. I told Bobby what happened." Ruby's face went pale. She couldn't believe she had forgotten to send an owl to him. "He told me to tell you to keep strong and that your Christmas present would be arriving late."
"Late?"
"It seems he has an extra surprise in store," Dumbledore smiled. "I just wanted to check in with you. It's been boring in my office with out the extra person reading."
She smiled back. "Don't worry. I finished The Princess Bride a couple days ago. So I'll have to find something new."
"How did it end," he asked like a little kid.
"Well it was good, but if you really want to know, you'll have to read it."
He laughed. "Very well, I may have to take you up on that. Happy Christmas, Ruby."
Later that afternoon, the Gryffindor gang came down with Ruby's presents. Hermione got her a travel size potion handbook, Harry got her a set of quills that included a peacock feather, Ron, Fred, and George all went together and got her a beginning mischief kit, and Ginny gave her a necklace made from unicorn hair. Mrs. Weasley had also sent her some treats, but she had Ginny store them for her for later.
When they had left, Madam Pompfrey brought a dinner tray. She tried her best to eat it, but still found it difficult. After that, it was pretty quiet. She had a wait until Snape brought her next dose of antidote. She was about to look at her mischief kit when an owl came into the infirmary. It dropped a box on her nightstand and then went back out. Her name was printed on the top with no sign of who sent it. She opened it and revealed a beautiful moon and star quilt. There was a card on top of the quilt.
"Well," Madam Pompfrey said, "Who sent you this?"
"I don't know." She read the card.
This quilt was made in Hawaii. Maybe it will remind you.
"Remind me of what?"
Madam Pompfrey looked at the card. "Interesting. Want me to help spread it out?" Ruby nodded, still thinking of the card.
Ruby just kept thinking about who would send her something like this, with a cryptic message, and make sure it was from Hawaii. That's when something caught her attention, this was the second year a mysterious owl came at the last minute with a gift for her. She looked up for a moment and noticed Snape slightly down the hallway. He wasn't moving, but she could tell that he had her next dose of antidote. He went to the window, slightly nodded his head, then continued to the infirmary.
"Happy Christmas, Professor Snape," Madam Pompfrey said cordially.
"Likewise," he answered. He came over to Ruby. He didn't say anything, just handed her the glass. She drank it down and handed the glass back. He turned to leave.
"What's the rush," Ruby asked.
"Pardon me?"
"You seem to be in a hurry tonight. Is something wrong?"
"I told you yesterday."
"That Christmas has never been happy for you? Yes, I know. I thought about that all night." There was some awkward silence before Ruby continued. "You can sit down."
"If you are going to try and get me to share my feelings, well you can forget it. My business is not you business."
"I was never one to share feelings, not a big fan of it." He was surprised by this remark. She was a Gryffindor, right? Didn't they believe in honor and sharing? Did they want everyone but Slytherins to be happy? He drew up a chair and sat by her bed. "You see, all my friends, muggle friends that is, who know about where I go to school always say. Ruby how on earth did you get into Gryffindor?"
"What are you talking about?"
"My friends, they call me Sly, as in Slytherin. They always thought I would make a better Slytherin then a Gryffindor. They say I'm too ambitious."
"Why are you telling me this," he asked.
"Well, you didn't want to talk about Christmas and I wanted to talk to you about something else, but I thought I'd prep you with a whole heap of nothing. Shall I continue?"
"I don't think I understand."
"That's the point." He looked really confused. "Ok, example, last year, People wanted me to talk about the whole incident that happened on the roof, but I didn't, so they would talk about something else. Usually something completely useless. Does anyone really know happen that night I dropped of the tower? No, and will they, only if I tell them. I won't know about your problem with Christmas. I'll never know unless you decide to tell me. Forcing you to tell will not give me any information, because you'll hold back."
"I suppose."
"No supposing, it's fact."
"How did they know?"
She was surprised about the sudden change in conversation.
"Your friends at home, how did they know about Hogwarts?"
"Oh, yeah, well, they have some wizarding blood in them from down the line, and there ancestors have passed down stories about different things, like school and quidditch."
"So they think that you should be in Slytherin?"
"Yeah, and I tend to agree with them. I mean, I like my friends in Gryffindor, but Red and gold really aren't my colors." He actually chuckled at this, but quickly stopped himself for being so foolish. "It's ok to laugh sometimes. It makes things less stressful. Why do you think I hang out with Fred and George?"
"I guess I see your point. So what did you really want to talk about?"
"Hmm, oh yeah, the whole real point I had. I wanted to know if you would come and tutor me here since I won't be able to leave for most of the next term. I don't want to fall behind the others." Snape sat and thought about it. "You will be here anyway to give me the antidote." She looked at him hopefully.
"Fine, we will try to continue our lessons here. What about you other classes?"
"I'll have Hermione get my homework for me. If I need help, I can always ask."
Madam Pompfrey came over, "Professor Snape, I know it is Christmas, but Miss Kennedy has not been sleeping. I must ask you to leave."
"Of course." He looked at Ruby quickly said good night and swept out of the room.
* * *
"That was very kind of you, Severus," said Dumbledore as Snape came out of the infirmary.
"I didn't know I was being watched."
Dumbledore smiled. "So how did you get it?"
"Get what?"
"The quilt. You can't fool me, Severus. I saw you send the owl last night."
"That doesn't mean it was me."
"Of course, but, you know what happens when the poison gets worse. The fever and chills. I would not be surprised if it was you."
"I would never single out a student."
"No, but you might an apprentice. She reminds me of another young potions student, though there are the obvious differences. Good night, Severus."
"Good night, Headmaster."
Snape went to his quarters, thinking about what Dumbledore had just said. She just needed some affirmation. It doesn't mean anything. He tried to convince himself of this all night.
*Woot! Long chapter I know. Lots of stuff going on, plus some reminders of the last story, which I found necessary. If anyone has a problem with Ruby's muggle friends, you may be able to take it up with them later in the series.
