Chapter Five: Snape's Recovering

"Good morning Severus," Harry said. It was early in the morning and he had checked in on Severus ('calling Snape that will take some getting used to') only after hearing the rustle of the paper. How Severus got the owl to deliver The Daily Prophet to him, rather than Harry who paid the bill, was still unclear. Severus glanced to Harry and gave a nod of acknowledgement and returned to reading. Harry sighed softly. Severus folded the paper onto his lap.

"Good morning Harry" he said.

Harry smiled. 'He called me Harry.' "What can I get you for breakfast?"

"Tea, toast, scrambled eggs," Severus paused. "Please."

Harry's eyebrows climbed up his forehead and Severus snorted. 'I believe we both have some adjustments to make,' thought Harry as he left to make breakfast.

***

Hypericia arrived later that morning, by Floo, with a wizard unknown to Harry. Harry appeared relaxed as he stepped into the living room to greet his guests, but held his wand at the ready.

"Hello Harry!" said Hypericia. "Heard there was a bit of excitement yesterday. This is Grant Moven, a physical therapist that I've worked in conjunction with before and has an excellent reputation." Grant looked like a rugby player, large, muscular and a crooked nose. Grant held out his hand to Harry, who took it. Harry noted the firmness of his handshake.

"It's an honor to meet you Mr. Potter. Your contributions to St Mungo's have really had a positive impact." Harry groaned silently. 'No ass kissing please!'

"Thank you Mr. Moven. I hope Hypericia has explained that I'm looking for discretion in treating my friend."

"Oh please, call me Grant."

"If you will call me Harry."

Grant smiled. "Of course Mr.…er…Harry. It is hospital policy that all patient information is confidential. I would only speak of a patient with those directly involve in their care, in this instance that would be Hypericia."

"Sometimes people can be careless. Usually that's not a problem, but in this case it could be disastrous. My friend has enemies. That's why he's not at St Mungo's in the first place, it's not secure enough. If you don't wish to become involved then you may leave, otherwise I will ask for your word that this arrangement will be kept in the strictest confidence." Harry gave Grant a stern look.

"You have my word," said Grant. Harry continued to visually assess Grant, who appeared unfazed.

"Good," Harry relaxed and smiled. "Let's go see Severus."

***

Harry could hear Severus grumbling as he walked upstairs carrying the dinner tray. Grant had been working with Severus for a week now. Harry smiled. Severus did everything that Grant asked him to do, without complaint. But the moment Grant left, the bitching started.

"He's trying to kill me you know, a slow torturous death," said Severus as Harry walked into the room. "How can I get out of bed, dress myself or do anything if I'm too bloody sore to even move!"

"Feeling peevish?" asked Harry. He set the tray on Severus' lap. Severus threw his bread at Harry.

"Impudent brat. You're supposed to be a Gryffindor sentimentalist, beside yourself in sympathy."

Harry laughed. "Remember Severus, no pity."

"How can my fingers hurt to hold my fork, tell me that? He is a Death Eater in disguise, very subtle and cunning. Find out what house he was in at Hogwarts. Must be Slytherin." Severus began eating, barely allowing a breath in between bites. Grant's therapy had definitely increased his appetite.

Harry laughed again. "Really Severus, Grant's no Death Eater or Slytherin. He was actually a Hufflepuff. I had Ron run a background check on him, just as I did for Hypericia. He's clean. He's just pushing your limits to rebuild your strength. Its working much faster than if it was a muggle therapist. You're going to be really sore though. Grant said that was expected. Hypericia left something for you to ease the pain and help you sleep." Harry picked up the potion and read the label. "It says to ingest 30 minutes after a meal for maximum effectiveness."

"Mmmm. Some of the ingredients may react with certain foods." Severus began to eat more sedately. "The therapy is progressing faster than what I remember under muggle care. I think it was more than a year before I was really up and functional. I…sometimes…there are gaps, many gaps in what I remember…sometimes though…"

"Yes, go on," said Harry.

"Sometimes I feel like there's a face in my mind. One I should know but can't quite place." Severus stared at his clean plate.

"I know some of what happened to you these past seven years; what hospitals you've been in, convalescent homes, mental institutions; why don't you tell me more?"

"How come it took you seven years to find me? You couldn't have been trying hard." asked Severus.

"I started looking for you nearly two months after the last battle. I had a difficult time picking up the trail. And every time I thought you were found, you disappeared. I often expected you to take off on your own and show up at Hogwarts one day."

"I did try to leave on my own, several times. But I was physically weak and with no wand, I didn't get far. Then they would drug me again. The first year I was near to comatose from my injuries. Then the physical therapy was extensive, but I tolerated it because I knew I wouldn't get far otherwise. They kept me so heavily medicated that I often didn't know who I was. I was desperate one day because I remembered that I was a wizard, but they wouldn't listen, yet I needed to tell, to say it out loud and reinforce it so I wouldn't forget. I forgot anyway." Harry watched as Severus twisted the sheet into a knot. "They would dose me and when I came out of the fog I would be somewhere new. Escape plans would have to be retooled. If I lost my temper I would be sedated. It was hopeless. I stopped trying. I was lost."

Harry tugged the sheet from Severus' hands and took those hands into his own. "You've been found. I didn't stop trying or looking. I knew you were too stubborn to be dead." Harry gently squeezed. "Now explain the face comment."

"I…sometimes…when…I'm not sure if what I remember is real. At times, through the fog, I would see a face. The same face, at different places, then I would be moved to a new location. Did I really seem someone or was it just the drugs? I don't know."

"Did you recognize the person?" Harry asked.

"He seemed familiar but I can't put a name to his face," said Severus.

"But it was a man?"

"Yes. If he was someone I knew, then he was an enemy. An associate would have aided me. But why not kill me?"

"Unless he wanted you to suffer somehow? Now who would want to make you suffer?" Harry chuckled. Severus shook off Harry's hands.

"Well, Severus, I think we should continue to keep your whereabouts quiet."

Severus nodded. "Unless my mind was playing tricks. Still I have enemies and I do not wish to be vulnerable. Keep quiet, stay low is an excellent strategy no matter what the game."

"Get some rest. That was your last meal in bed. Grant will have you up in the morning."

Severus groaned. "Check him out again. See if he's worked in the muggle world."

Harry laughed. "Goodnight Severus."

"Goodnight Harry."

***

"So how do you tell them apart?" said Harry. He had Milo and David on his lap and saw no clear difference between the twins. Both had red hair, blue eyes and toothless grins. They even had the same drool on their chins as they grabbed the buttons on Harry's shirt.

Ron shrugged. "Hermione always knows. Fred and George already call them Mavid and Dilo. They've pleaded with Hermione not to give them clothes with their initials on them. Frankly, I could use the help."

Hermione smacked Ron in the arm. "Really, can't see the difference in your own children? Milo certainly has the more introspective countenance and while David is more contemplative." Ron and Harry stared at Hermione. Severus snickered. Hermione began laughing. "Ron, your mother helped me mark them magically so I could tell them apart. There's a reason for calling them identical twins. As they grow older you'll begin to know the subtle differences between them."

Harry smiled. "Hermione, you're glowing more now than when you were pregnant. Motherhood agrees with you."

"Yes, I didn't know I could feel this fulfilled and yet so tired."

"The twins had a rough night" said Ron. "We were up for ages with them. Almost didn't come today, but the twins weren't sleeping…so may as well visit." Ron yawned.

Harry set the twins on the floor. They began crawling about investigating Harry's living room. "I made sure there was nothing small for them to put in their mouths," he said.

"Thanks, I'll just put up a magical barrier so they can't leave the room or climb into the fireplace." Hermione wave her wand about the room to put the barriers in place. The barriers shimmered and sparked as a reminder to adults not to trip over them.

Harry watched as one of the twins seemed fascinated by Severus' shoelaces. Severus moved his foot several times, but the baby was persistent. Finally the baby began to wail in frustration and Hermione came to his rescue. "Milo, leave the professor alone." She scooped him up and set him on the other side of the room, closer to David.

"You may call me Severus. I am no longer a professor," said Severus.

"Okay," said Ron, looking uncomfortable, but Hermione was unconcerned.

"Have you given thought to what you'd like to do now? I could speak to my supervisor at the Athena Project; someone with your credentials would certainly be as asset to the organization."

"I am still reflecting, but thank you."

"Ron, how are things in the ministry?" asked Harry.

"Busy. I'm working directly under Kingsley Shacklebolt who's heading up the Auror division. Minister Bones used to be in charge of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, so she understands our needs in rebuilding. I've only got four years under my belt as a trained Auror, but I'm nearly an old man there." Ron sighed. "Unfortunately the public has deemed the danger past and has been complaining about our large budget, as if you've destroyed all the Dark wizards to come."

"I never acted alone, Ron, you know that." Harry said quietly.

"You're Harry Bloody Potter! Most every one that helped is dead. Those alive aren't seen in your spotlight."

"Ron," Harry growled.

"The public only sees you mate. In your next speech, try and talk up the Auror division."

"You know I'd rather discuss anything but myself. I'll write an editorial to The Daily Prophet, since I have no speaking engagements scheduled in the near future." Harry stood up and walked to his desk, retrieving some parchments, he wound his way around the twins and handed the papers to Ron. "This is the original report on the search for Severus after the last battle. I suspect that the ineffectiveness in finding him may have been deliberate. Could you look into this please?"

"Sure" Ron began quickly scanning the parchments. Hermione leaned over his shoulder.

"Quietly," said Severus. "If you can manage that." Ron glared at him for a moment and continued to read. "Though I don't know what it will accomplish, unless the person was foolish enough to leave a trail."

"Everyone slips up eventually," said Hermione.

"That much is true," replied Severus. "Perhaps I can offer some motivation. I may know something about a certain curse to a certain Quidditch team…"

Ron shot up from his seat. "Tell me!" he yelled. There was a moment of silence before the twins began to squall.

"Ronald Weasley, go calm your children," said Hermione firmly, not moving to pick up the twins. It took Ron several minutes of cuddling and cooing for the twins to quiet.

"Severus, you are quite cruel," said Harry. Severus looked smug.

"We shall see what Mr. Weasley can discover."