Chapter 14 Sev Visits
Remus didn't have the heart to tell her what had happened to Sirius, besides she'd never believe him. She would know in her heart that Sirius would never betray James, not ever. More to the point, she'd expect everyone else to understand that. She would never understand how they could all have been so willing to believe Sirius did it. "Well, on a somewhat brighter note, Harry stopped in to see me a few times. He's been waiting rather impatiently for you to wake up, seems he has a few questions for you."
"Oh lovely" Cat said as she rolled her eyes "I can just imagine. What sort of lunatics are they letting teach here, what made you think you......."
Remus interrupted her "Cat, don't underestimate Harry. He is every bit his parent's son. He's very worried about you actually. Especially about crying blood, I couldn't explain that one either."
For once in her life, Cat couldn't look Remus in the eyes. "I don't know what to tell you Remus." she said dully.
Remus looked at her for a moment and saw she was getting upset again. "Okay, I know you'll tell me when you feel its right. But you should know something else about Harry, he can feel you, just like Lilly could. When you do that energy thing of yours, he felt it,....felt it with Mac Lir as well." he finished uncertainly.
"Really, he could feel that?" She replied apparently intrigued "I'm surprised. If he felt Mac Lir pulling energy like that, oh the poor kid must have been completely sick." Sounding more and more concerned "Remus are you sure he's alright, I mean, that can be really intense and I doubt anyone prepared him for anything like that."
"Relax Cat, and stay in your bed unless you want Pomfrey out here." Remus was once again smiling, he knew her to well. Tell her someone she cared about needed her, and poof, everything else stopped until she was satisfied they were fine. "I told you, he's been here to visit, he's fine. A little confused on some things, but fit as a fiddle. Oh and I promised him I'd take you to see him play Quidditch next week."
"Quidditch, I really missed that game." Cat said sounding like her old self again "I still remember you guys trying to teach me how to play. Poor James, he never really could get me to understand the 'finer' points of the game."
"True, true. But you could beat a bludger with the best of them." Remus continued light-heartedly "It's a shame you never tried out for the team. Of course Madam Pomfrey would have been kept quite busy. Wicked sense of aim you have."
"Oh come on Remus, how many times have I told you. I didn't mean to hit that creep Malfoy with the stupid bludger." Cat replied exasperated "The idiot should have known better than to pull a stunt like that anyway."
"Relieving the past again, are we" Severus said, startling Remus and Cat "Professor Lupin, surely that's not a healthy pastime." He finished, a strained smile on his face.
"Hello Severus, so glad to see you,... again." Remus said, trying to sound sincere.
"Severus, I heard you've been a regular visitor to Madam Pomfrey's hallowed halls" Cat was smiling at the smirk on Severus's face "You know that really wasn't necessary though." she began to blush.
"Nonsense. I wanted to make sure you were alright. You gave us all quite a fright." Severus told her tenderly, as he took a seat next to her bed, his back facing Lupin.
Lupin, never one to miss an opportunity, took full advantage of Snape's back, making faces at Cat every time Snape started talking.
"Do you think Madam Pomfrey will be letting you leave soon?" Severus asked, as Lupin made kissy faces.
Cat trying to keep a straight face looked down before answering "I don't know, probably by tomorrow morning."
Severus looked at her, trying to figure out why she was acting so strangely. "Catri is there something I should know?"
"NO, nothing, everything is fine, really." Cat could hardly stifle her laughter this time. As Lupin wrapped his arms around himself, pretending to be embracing someone.
Severus began to insist she tell him what was wrong when he noticed her shooting glances behind him, turning quickly he caught Lupin mid-mock. "Very mature Mr. Lupin. I only hope I can return the compliment." Snape was practically growling, pulling out his wand, Severus quickly materialized a large dark curtain between Lupin and himself.
"Now Miss MacLeod, is it possible for us to have an intelligent conversation, or shall I simply stupefy him and be done with it."
Cat wasn't completely sure how serious Severus was about stupefying Remus, deciding to error on the side of caution she took Severus's hand. "Now Severus, you really shouldn't be so angry, Remus was just trying to make me laugh, you know how he is. I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it." This seemed to placate Snape who finally put his wand away and sat down again.
"I find his sense of humour lacking." an offended Severus replied.
"Come now, it could be worse. He could be doing something with superglue." Cat said, sounding all to innocent.
Snape rolling his eyes spoke in an indignant tone "Do you have to remind me. You have no idea how impossible that is to remove."
"Oh I don't know. I seem to recall helping someone try to remove himself from it every now and again." she said as she squeezed his hand gently.
Severus, now smiling, "About our little discussion the other day, I hope your recent experience has not changed your mind. You are still willing to stay here?"
"Of course, I told you I would stay until Albus didn't need me here anymore." she answered truthfully, and added with a grin "You know me, don't have enough sense to give up anyway."
Severus gave her another tender look as he brushed a lock of hair off of her face "I was hoping you had other reasons for staying as well." he said softly.
Cat began to blush again "Severus,....I may have other reasons, but it's a little to soon to be making any assumptions." she began to bite her lip again, as she looked up at him shyly.
His heart was melting again, she could always do that to him. It never mattered what had happened, how angry he was, one look from those large green eyes and he was done for. He remembered back to all the times those eyes of hers had stopped him from sinking into despair. She was the only one who really knew him, the only one he could trust with all the horrors of his youth, if only she had realized then how much he truly cared for her. If only Sirius Black hadn't stepped in to ruin everything. "I doubt you would be making any assumptions where I am concerned." he was almost whispering now.
Cat reached out to touch his cheek, as she smiled warmly "Sev, please, you know I'm very fond of you, but I don't want either of us to rush into anything."
He smiled back at her, he could feel all the old feeling coming back as his eyes began to tear up "I understand, but I never stopped caring for you. You know that."
"I know."
He could see her eyes becoming moist as well. He wanted to press the subject but unfortunately Madam Pomfrey had picked this exact moment to make her rounds. Chattering noisily about the curtain. Severus quickly stood up and cleared his throat as Madam Pomfrey came around the curtain.
"Oh, Professor Snape," Pomfrey exclaimed "I didn't realize it was you. I thought these two were playing games again."
"No. I needed to speak with Miss MacLeod privately" Snape answered, his voice firm once again, as he removed the curtain and replaced his wand.
"I hope you're finished then Professor, its time for them to take their potion" Pomfrey said matter of factly.
"Potion, dear gods woman, she's been asleep for the past three days, do you really think she needs more sleep" Lupin said sarcastically.
"Well you could certainly use some beauty sleep Lupy, you look like hell." Cat shot back.
Poppy Pomfrey simply rolled her eyes at Professor Snape "Do you see why I give them sleeping potions, its the only time they're quiet."
"Yes, I understand your dilemma." Snape replied dryly, he paused to give Cat a quick smile as he left. Pausing outside the hospital doors he closed his eye and sighed deeply. He needed to convince her that his feelings were sincere. He knew it would only be a matter of time before Black showed up, and he wasn't going to make the same mistake twice.
After Madam Pomfrey had finally gotten Remus and Cat to drink their sleeping potions she left them alone.
"So is it safe to assume he's still madly in love with you" Remus asked
"Remus, stop it. No one is 'madly' in love with me and you know it." Cat replied a bit irritated.
"Yeah right. Isn't he the one that asked you to every dance, tried to get the seat next to you in every class you shared, and I believe he's the same one who kept making sketches of you in various states of dress, may I add."
"I never saw any of those sketches. Were they any good?" Cat replied sleepily.
"Well, some of them didn't leave a whole lot to the imagination, that's for sure. Sirius found a few and came pretty close to skinning him alive" Remus yawned "James, Peter and I had to pull him off before he killed him."
"Sirius. Always trying to be my knight in shining armour, to bad he had such a bad habit of breaking my heart." Cat said wistfully.
"At least I know Sirius truly cared for you Kitty, I never really thought Severus had it in him to care about anyone." Remus told her, sounding more bitter than he should.
"Remus, you really should be kinder to Severus. He's not a bad person, he's just neglected his heart for so long. Surely you remember what happened to him, to his father. He's actually very sweet. He reminds me of that wishing well, it looks all dark and foreboding, but clear out some of the brush, let a little light in and it's a wonderful place to be" she finished sleepily as the potion took effect.
"You always manage to see the best in people, don't you Kitty Cat?" Remus replied, smiling tenderly as they drift back off to sleep.
The next morning Harry stopped into the hospital wing on his way to potions. He was delighted when he saw Miss MacLeod was awake and well. Remus saw him first, standing by the door, and motioned for him to come over and talk with them.
"Harry, good news, Pomfrey is letting us out in a few minutes." Remus said overjoyed.
"Good news for you maybe, I've got so much to get my classes caught up on." worried Cat "We should have covered geomancy and moved on to runes by now."
"She sounds like Hermione." Harry laughed to Remus.
"Harry didn't you want to ask Miss MacLeod something when you stopped in yesterday?" Remus prodded.
"Yes. But it can wait," Harry was feeling a bit awkward about questioning her in front of Remus "Maybe I can talk with you after class tomorrow?"
"That's fine with me Harry, as long as Remus doesn't mind you being late for DADA." she nodded toward Remus who was smiling at her.
"I think we can arrange that." Remus winked at Harry "So how has Professor Snape been treating you after this weekend?" he asked, knowing the answer already.
"Snape, don't ask. You would have thought I planned the whole thing, he's already taken 20 points from Gryffindor and I've only had him once." complained Harry.
Remus noticed Cat was listening intently to every word. "Well you know Professor Snape. I'm sure he's taking points from everyone." Remus egged on.
"Yeah right, everyone but Slytherin" Harry sighed. Looking at his watch panic struck "Oh great, now I'm going to be late for potions. I'm getting detention for sure now." he moaned.
"Harry, do you have some parchment and I quill I can use?" Miss MacLeod asked.
"Sure, but I really have to get going" Harry began
"Just wait a moment. I want you to give this to Professor Snape. Tell him you're very sorry that you are late, but I asked you to give this to him personally. Okay" Cat asked as she began writing….
Harry took off running the moment Miss MacLeod had given him the parchment.
"Well Mr. Potter. So glad you could join us" Snape hissed as the Slytherin side of the class laughed.
"I'm sorry Professor Snape" Harry panted "But Miss MacLeod asked me to wait for this." Harry raised up the parchment. "She asked that I hand it to you personally."
"Did she...." Snape grabbed the parchment out of Harry's hand. "Very well, take your seat Mr. Potter."
Malfoy sneered as Harry walked by, waiting for Snape to add on detention and points. He nudged his friends knowingly as they stared and pointed at Harry.
Harry for his part had sat down quickly next to Ron waiting for the evitable punishment. Snape returned to his desk and opened the parchment. Harry watched closely as Snape read Miss MacLeod's note, "two eyebrow raises and one smirk." Harry stated "Is that good or bad" he asked Ron.
"Come on Harry, It's Snape" Ron retorted "when is anything about him good."
Snape looked up at the class and focused in on Harry. "Mr. Potter, I suggest you catch up with the rest of the class. Quickly"
"That's it!" Ron said dumbfounded. "No detention, no points. Harry what did you give him. Was it charmed?"
"I don't know. Maybe. It was a note from Miss MacLeod" Harry replied as he quickly began mixing his potion.
Draco Malfoy was seething now. He couldn't believe Professor Snape wasn't going to make Harry suffer for being late. No detention, not even taking points from Gryffindor. Draco knew it must have something to do with MacLeod, Snape hadn't been himself since she showed up.