Disclaimer: It all belongs to JKR.
A/N – Well, sadilou abandoned me and took her computer too. I must rely on computer labs from now on. Besides that, I just started school again. I may only be able to post about once a week for a while.
There is something awkward about this chapter. I'm not sure what, but some off the dialogue seems wrong. Oh well, I have sat on it long enough, hoping that I would be able to edit it into coherence.
*****
Severus entered the Hospital wing quietly. It was deathly quiet.
He paused in the doorway of the main ward; it was still crowded. He looked around, identifying students, most of whom were still asleep.
"Pardon me, Severus." Said someone behind him.
Sev turned around and stepped back to let Poppy pass.
"Well, is there anyone in particular you wanted to see?" She asked, when he did not say anything. "Since you're a teacher I suppose we can let you visit for a few minutes. I have been keeping most everyone out."
"Um, no. I wanted to ask if you needed any supplies or assistance." Sev replied.
"I will need more Dreamless Sleep Potion soon." She said thoughtfully. "Thank you for your help with the injured yesterday, Severus. I think my advanced students and I can manage now."
"Of course. I will get my seventh year class to start work on Dreamless Sleep tomorrow. I usually don't cover it until spring, but I think they can handle it with careful guidance." Sev said. "Oh, by the way, in a few days you will want to check on those I, er, healed. They will all have some rather severe bruising. It will fade on its own, of course, but knowing you…"
Poppy smiled weakly. "In a few days." She confirmed. "I am worn dreadfully thin. About that spell you used…?"
Sev swallowed nervously. "When I was younger, I was a bit…reckless with my broom. The first time I broke my arm I modified the bone breaking curse to heal myself. I didn't know many Healing Charms, and the local medic was a sot." Sev shrugged. "I have always known too many curses."
"And the bruising?" Poppy asked.
"Partially a result of the break, partially the violence of the spell itself." Sev winced.
"I see," She bit her lip. "And it's painful, you say?"
"Yes. Quite painful." He agreed. "Even if you do it to yourself."
"I think I will conduct interviews with your patients. Perhaps some of them would be willing to share their memories. For the good of the healing arts, of course."
"Publish or perish, Poppy?" Sev smirked. "You?"
She blushed. "Well, I must say, it is a fascinating concept, and since we have a large pool of subjects to study anyway…"
Sev chuckled. "Right. I'll cooperate, don't worry."
An incoherent shout echoed from one of the inner wards.
Poppy winced. "Mr. Malfoy again." She said, hurrying towards the closed door. "I think he may be more bored and frustrated than anything. The pain potions are at full dose, but I don't want to put him out again. I don't suppose you would be willing to visit with him for a while?"
"If I must." Severus agreed.
"Thank you." She wrenched open the door. "Mr. Malfoy." She said sternly. "If you do not stop screeching loud enough to wake the Dreamless, I will be forced to Silence you!"
"I'm hungry." Malfoy said petulantly. "When can I get out of here, anyway?"
"When I say you are sufficiently healed, that's when." Poppy said. "Stop being so difficult and get that elf of yours to bring you more soup."
"I don't want more chicken soup." Malfoy complained. "I want food. Solid food. And dessert, chocolate."
"I'm glad to see Dobby puts your health above your wishes." Poppy said. "Now be so kind as to be quiet!" She turned and brushed past Severus. "He's all yours." She muttered.
Severus entered the room and glanced around. Malfoy occupied one of four beds in the ward. In the other three students slept on despite the volume of Malfoy's demands.
"You." The boy snarled.
"Yes." Sev agreed. "Me."
"What are you doing here?" Malfoy demanded then a gleam appeared in his eyes. "Could you bring me something to eat?"
"Soup maybe." Sev smiled unpleasantly. "Yes. I'll have the kitchens make some more up for you."
"Bah." Malfoy said, turning his head away. "You're no help."
"Did you really think I would be?" Sev asked mildly.
"I suppose not." Malfoy groaned tried to shift slightly.
"What did you get hit with?" Sev asked, taking the seat near the bed.
"Feels like a ton of bricks. My own father cursed me." Malfoy said still looking away. "I might be dead if it weren't for Weasley there." He gestured.
Severus turned to look at the bed behind him. Ginny Weasley lay there, looking pale and near to death. "Oh?"
"She pushed me out of the way. The spell hit her instead, most of it, anyway." Draco looked past Snape's shoulder. "She's a Gryffindor. Why would she do that? And for me."
"Gryffindor bravery perhaps? You'll have to ask her when she wakes up." Sev said.
"If she wakes up, you mean. I heard Madam Pomphrey say she was the worst case she had ever dealt with. Weasley has been in to see her twice."
"He is her brother. He would be concerned about her." Severus kept his face neutral.
"Seeing him so often has set back my recuperation." Malfoy griped. "I have to listen to him pleading with her not to die for what seems like hours at a time."
"Where is Dobby? I thought he would still be hovering over you." Sev asked.
Color rose in Malfoy's cheeks. "I sent him away. Told him to take his nasty soup and go away."
"I see." Severus said impassively.
"I suppose I'll have to apologize if I ever want to speak to him again." Malfoy sighed. "I've been short with him since I woke up."
"He'll be back as soon as he thinks you need him." Severus predicted. "I believe he realizes how difficult you find being immobile."
Malfoy snarled audibly.
"Did he serve in your nursery?" Severus asked. "If you don't mind telling me."
Malfoy scowled and started to nod when his injuries reminded him it would not be a good idea. "Yes, of course he did." Malfoy growled. "The youngest elf in our service when I was born."
Severus nodded. "I thought it would be something like that. I almost stopped him when I saw he was hovering over you. Just in case he might do you harm."
Malfoy smiled. "He didn't change that much. Father was never easy on the servants. He didn't understand house elves. He never had his own elf. A maiden aunt raised him, from what I understand she hated children."
"Safer to leave an elf in charge." Severus said.
"Perhaps." Malfoy agreed. "Dobby didn't change, but you have, Professor."
"Oh? Have I really?" Severus raised an eyebrow.
"You know you have. You taught us to hate Potter, now it seems he's your new pet." Malfoy growled.
"I wouldn't call him my pet, precisely." Sev said, wondering how much to disclose.
"What would you call him then?" Malfoy demanded.
"His son." Said a very weak voice.
Severus whirled around on his chair. "Miss Weasley. You're awake."
"Professor, is that true?" Malfoy asked his mouth agape.
"She is awake, yes." Sev said.
"I mean what she said." Malfoy countered impatiently.
"I do not confirm any such rumor." Snape said, evasively. "If it were true, Miss Weasley, it would not be your secret to reveal."
She laughed softly and gasped. "If it was such a secret, Harry shouldn't have spoken about it in the common room." Here voice was hardly above a whisper. "Even if they were in a dark corner and speaking in low voices."
"Rest quietly. Don't speak." Malfoy said. "Are you hungry? DOBBY!" He yelled.
"Ouch." Weasley moaned.
Dobby returned with his tray of soup.
"Perhaps we should get Madam Pomphrey first." Severus stood. He was halfway to the door when it opened.
"Silencio." Poppy said, pointing her wand at Malfoy. "And stay quiet." She said, breathing hard.
"Poppy, Miss Weasley is awake." Severus said, amused.
"Is she?" Poppy's turned towards the girl's bed. "How wonderful." She bustled over. "How do you feel, dear?"
"Numb." The patient said weakly.
"Be grateful, it will hurt soon enough. I didn't expect you to wake for days yet." Poppy said, using her wand to check her injuries. "Lie still. Don't try to move or speak."
"Thirsty too." Miss Weasley said.
"We will let you have some water to begin with." Poppy said happily. "I'll let your brother know you're awake. We sent an owl to your parents, but I doubt it is safe for them to travel at the moment."
Severus watched Dobby spoon soup into Malfoy's protesting mouth.
"I'll just leave you to your lunch, Mr. Malfoy." Sev said, standing. "I'll get that potion to you, Poppy." His gaze rested on Ginny Weasley. His mouth twisted into what was almost a smile. "You remind me of your mother, girl, and that's a good thing." He turned and left quickly.
*****
A/N - Well, there you have it. I considered putting in some of Ginny and Draco's conversation, but decided to limit POVs to just Harry and Sev.
A/N – Well, sadilou abandoned me and took her computer too. I must rely on computer labs from now on. Besides that, I just started school again. I may only be able to post about once a week for a while.
There is something awkward about this chapter. I'm not sure what, but some off the dialogue seems wrong. Oh well, I have sat on it long enough, hoping that I would be able to edit it into coherence.
*****
Severus entered the Hospital wing quietly. It was deathly quiet.
He paused in the doorway of the main ward; it was still crowded. He looked around, identifying students, most of whom were still asleep.
"Pardon me, Severus." Said someone behind him.
Sev turned around and stepped back to let Poppy pass.
"Well, is there anyone in particular you wanted to see?" She asked, when he did not say anything. "Since you're a teacher I suppose we can let you visit for a few minutes. I have been keeping most everyone out."
"Um, no. I wanted to ask if you needed any supplies or assistance." Sev replied.
"I will need more Dreamless Sleep Potion soon." She said thoughtfully. "Thank you for your help with the injured yesterday, Severus. I think my advanced students and I can manage now."
"Of course. I will get my seventh year class to start work on Dreamless Sleep tomorrow. I usually don't cover it until spring, but I think they can handle it with careful guidance." Sev said. "Oh, by the way, in a few days you will want to check on those I, er, healed. They will all have some rather severe bruising. It will fade on its own, of course, but knowing you…"
Poppy smiled weakly. "In a few days." She confirmed. "I am worn dreadfully thin. About that spell you used…?"
Sev swallowed nervously. "When I was younger, I was a bit…reckless with my broom. The first time I broke my arm I modified the bone breaking curse to heal myself. I didn't know many Healing Charms, and the local medic was a sot." Sev shrugged. "I have always known too many curses."
"And the bruising?" Poppy asked.
"Partially a result of the break, partially the violence of the spell itself." Sev winced.
"I see," She bit her lip. "And it's painful, you say?"
"Yes. Quite painful." He agreed. "Even if you do it to yourself."
"I think I will conduct interviews with your patients. Perhaps some of them would be willing to share their memories. For the good of the healing arts, of course."
"Publish or perish, Poppy?" Sev smirked. "You?"
She blushed. "Well, I must say, it is a fascinating concept, and since we have a large pool of subjects to study anyway…"
Sev chuckled. "Right. I'll cooperate, don't worry."
An incoherent shout echoed from one of the inner wards.
Poppy winced. "Mr. Malfoy again." She said, hurrying towards the closed door. "I think he may be more bored and frustrated than anything. The pain potions are at full dose, but I don't want to put him out again. I don't suppose you would be willing to visit with him for a while?"
"If I must." Severus agreed.
"Thank you." She wrenched open the door. "Mr. Malfoy." She said sternly. "If you do not stop screeching loud enough to wake the Dreamless, I will be forced to Silence you!"
"I'm hungry." Malfoy said petulantly. "When can I get out of here, anyway?"
"When I say you are sufficiently healed, that's when." Poppy said. "Stop being so difficult and get that elf of yours to bring you more soup."
"I don't want more chicken soup." Malfoy complained. "I want food. Solid food. And dessert, chocolate."
"I'm glad to see Dobby puts your health above your wishes." Poppy said. "Now be so kind as to be quiet!" She turned and brushed past Severus. "He's all yours." She muttered.
Severus entered the room and glanced around. Malfoy occupied one of four beds in the ward. In the other three students slept on despite the volume of Malfoy's demands.
"You." The boy snarled.
"Yes." Sev agreed. "Me."
"What are you doing here?" Malfoy demanded then a gleam appeared in his eyes. "Could you bring me something to eat?"
"Soup maybe." Sev smiled unpleasantly. "Yes. I'll have the kitchens make some more up for you."
"Bah." Malfoy said, turning his head away. "You're no help."
"Did you really think I would be?" Sev asked mildly.
"I suppose not." Malfoy groaned tried to shift slightly.
"What did you get hit with?" Sev asked, taking the seat near the bed.
"Feels like a ton of bricks. My own father cursed me." Malfoy said still looking away. "I might be dead if it weren't for Weasley there." He gestured.
Severus turned to look at the bed behind him. Ginny Weasley lay there, looking pale and near to death. "Oh?"
"She pushed me out of the way. The spell hit her instead, most of it, anyway." Draco looked past Snape's shoulder. "She's a Gryffindor. Why would she do that? And for me."
"Gryffindor bravery perhaps? You'll have to ask her when she wakes up." Sev said.
"If she wakes up, you mean. I heard Madam Pomphrey say she was the worst case she had ever dealt with. Weasley has been in to see her twice."
"He is her brother. He would be concerned about her." Severus kept his face neutral.
"Seeing him so often has set back my recuperation." Malfoy griped. "I have to listen to him pleading with her not to die for what seems like hours at a time."
"Where is Dobby? I thought he would still be hovering over you." Sev asked.
Color rose in Malfoy's cheeks. "I sent him away. Told him to take his nasty soup and go away."
"I see." Severus said impassively.
"I suppose I'll have to apologize if I ever want to speak to him again." Malfoy sighed. "I've been short with him since I woke up."
"He'll be back as soon as he thinks you need him." Severus predicted. "I believe he realizes how difficult you find being immobile."
Malfoy snarled audibly.
"Did he serve in your nursery?" Severus asked. "If you don't mind telling me."
Malfoy scowled and started to nod when his injuries reminded him it would not be a good idea. "Yes, of course he did." Malfoy growled. "The youngest elf in our service when I was born."
Severus nodded. "I thought it would be something like that. I almost stopped him when I saw he was hovering over you. Just in case he might do you harm."
Malfoy smiled. "He didn't change that much. Father was never easy on the servants. He didn't understand house elves. He never had his own elf. A maiden aunt raised him, from what I understand she hated children."
"Safer to leave an elf in charge." Severus said.
"Perhaps." Malfoy agreed. "Dobby didn't change, but you have, Professor."
"Oh? Have I really?" Severus raised an eyebrow.
"You know you have. You taught us to hate Potter, now it seems he's your new pet." Malfoy growled.
"I wouldn't call him my pet, precisely." Sev said, wondering how much to disclose.
"What would you call him then?" Malfoy demanded.
"His son." Said a very weak voice.
Severus whirled around on his chair. "Miss Weasley. You're awake."
"Professor, is that true?" Malfoy asked his mouth agape.
"She is awake, yes." Sev said.
"I mean what she said." Malfoy countered impatiently.
"I do not confirm any such rumor." Snape said, evasively. "If it were true, Miss Weasley, it would not be your secret to reveal."
She laughed softly and gasped. "If it was such a secret, Harry shouldn't have spoken about it in the common room." Here voice was hardly above a whisper. "Even if they were in a dark corner and speaking in low voices."
"Rest quietly. Don't speak." Malfoy said. "Are you hungry? DOBBY!" He yelled.
"Ouch." Weasley moaned.
Dobby returned with his tray of soup.
"Perhaps we should get Madam Pomphrey first." Severus stood. He was halfway to the door when it opened.
"Silencio." Poppy said, pointing her wand at Malfoy. "And stay quiet." She said, breathing hard.
"Poppy, Miss Weasley is awake." Severus said, amused.
"Is she?" Poppy's turned towards the girl's bed. "How wonderful." She bustled over. "How do you feel, dear?"
"Numb." The patient said weakly.
"Be grateful, it will hurt soon enough. I didn't expect you to wake for days yet." Poppy said, using her wand to check her injuries. "Lie still. Don't try to move or speak."
"Thirsty too." Miss Weasley said.
"We will let you have some water to begin with." Poppy said happily. "I'll let your brother know you're awake. We sent an owl to your parents, but I doubt it is safe for them to travel at the moment."
Severus watched Dobby spoon soup into Malfoy's protesting mouth.
"I'll just leave you to your lunch, Mr. Malfoy." Sev said, standing. "I'll get that potion to you, Poppy." His gaze rested on Ginny Weasley. His mouth twisted into what was almost a smile. "You remind me of your mother, girl, and that's a good thing." He turned and left quickly.
*****
A/N - Well, there you have it. I considered putting in some of Ginny and Draco's conversation, but decided to limit POVs to just Harry and Sev.