Disclaimer/Author Note/Rating: Please see Chapter 1 for full disclaimers, legal info, etc.

Go raibh maith agaibh:

Hi everyone, this weekend might be a very productive one for me from a posting standpoint. Everything is done, and is just waiting to be posted to ff-net! So buckle your seatbelts!

Romula Linders… Love? That is high praise, indeed. Glad, as always, that you enjoy my writing so much. You've got a ways to go in Thunderstruck. I hope you like the other chapters as much.

Silverthreads… I like to think there is more to Tonks than humor. She's got to have talent to be an Auror!

Mercury Gray… I had a feeling you'd like Maggie showing up there. I didn't want all of the ghosts to be identified, but she seemed to be the one who needed to be even if she wasn't specifically at Castlebann.

Wyall Jared… No worries about not reviewing the other chapter. Everyone reviewed so consistently for so long, it seems everyone took a break at the same time! Glad you're still on the edge of your seat.

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Chapter 33: Not So Strange Bedfellows

Severus had literally paced the hall while Madam Pomfrey examined Serena. Dumbledore and McGonagall stayed with him while the Weasleys got the children back to their classrooms and Lupin and Sirius went looking for Malificus and the Death Eaters. And Tonks, since she was an Auror, was already bringing Hecate Underwood and the other Death Eaters they had captured to the Ministry of Magic to face charges.

Finally the door to the ward opened and Pomfrey came out.

"Is she alright?" Snape demanded instantly.

"Yes, Severus, she's fine," Madame Pomfrey reassured him. "She'll recover, but she's going to be very weak for a bit. Probably a few weeks. She'll nod off to sleep at the drop of a hat, so if she does, don't fret about it."

"Is she awake now? I want to see her."

"Of course," said Madam Pomfrey. "Headmaster? Professor McGonagall?"

"No," said Dumbledore. "I'll come visit Serena in the morning. I'm sure she'll be in excellent hands while Severus is here."

Without another word, Severus went into the room and Pomfrey shut the door behind him, giving him some privacy with Serena. He walked silently up to her bed. Her eyes were shut and her sable hair spilled down over the pillow. She looked drawn, and there were dark circles under her eyes. Madam Pomfrey had cured the bruise on her cheek where Malificus hit her. The arm that had been cut was bandaged, but at the edge Severus could see new pink skin where Pomfrey had healed her.

He sat down in the chair next to the bed and a moment later she turned her head on the pillow and opened her eyes. When she saw him, Serena smiled.

"Severus…"

He took her hand and kissed it. "Madame Pomfrey says you're going to be fine."

Serena nodded. "She said I just needed to rest, but in a few weeks I should be back to normal." Her voice was soft.

Severus spent a moment just looking at Serena. Still holding her hand, Severus dropped his head a little until it touched her fingers, and then he let out a long sigh.

"Are you okay? Severus?"

He kissed her hand again and looked up at Serena. "I thought you were going to die," he said.

"But I didn't."

Then he leaned forward and kissed her. "I love you, Serena."

"I love you, too. Here..." She pushed over and patted the bed next to her.

"There isn't much room, and we are in the infirmary…"

"Severus," she sighed. "Just come lie on top of the covers. I just want to be close to you."

He couldn't refuse. Getting on the bed slowly, he arranged himself on his side. It was a tight squeeze and Serena wiggled closer to him. She pushed her head onto his shoulder and sighed, shutting her eyes again, feeling the soft linen of his shirt against her cheek. A few moments later, she was asleep. If Madame Pomfrey hadn't warned him about how quickly Serena would doze off, he would have been worried. As her breathing slowed and became regular, Severus pulled the sheet up to cover her shoulder.

He shut his eyes and listened to Serena's slow, deep breaths as she fell into an even deeper sleep. I'll just stay here for a few minutes…

And that was how Madame Pomfrey found them on her early morning rounds. Severus had both of his arms around Serena protectively and his chin rested on the top of her head. Both were sound asleep.

I wish I could leave you both like this, she thought.

She came up to the edge of the bed. "Professor Snape?" She touched his leg lightly and withdrew her hand as his eyes snapped open. "I'm sorry to wake you, but its morning. I'm sure there will be visitors on the ward soon. I wasn't certain you'd still want to be…"

"Of course. Yes, thank you Madame Pomfrey," he said.

Severus tried to unwrap his arms without waking her but as he moved, Serena's eyes opened and she blinked slowly. "I was dreaming," she said. Her voice was soft, still wrapped in the warm comfort of sleep. "We were dancing."

"Then go back to your dream," he whispered. "It is too early to be up."

"Okay…" She shifted her head on the pillows and let her eyes flutter closed again. After a moment of watching her, Severus got off the bed as slowly as he could and settled himself into the hard-backed chair next to it.

"The sleep will be tremendously beneficial," said Pomfrey. "For a few weeks, she'll become tired quite easily. Sleeping and feeling safe are what she needs to build her strength back up."

Within an hour, a number of visitors piled into the room to visit Serena. All of the students who had found her, except for Neville and Oliver, were there. Snape watched them all like a hawk, not liking the large crowd when he thought she should be resting. But he kept his peace, knowing that it would be impossible for her to have complete privacy after the events of last night.

"But they're both fine?" asked Serena.

"Yes," said Hermione. "We saw Neville just before we came here."

"And what about Oliver?" Serena turned to look at Madame Pomfrey.

"Mr. Wood will be fine, considering he had to suffer that vile Cruciatus Curse. He's resting in a private room. For the next few days, he'll get no visitors, aside from his parents." She pointedly looked at the Weasley twins. "After that, we'll see."

"What?" said George, trying to sound surprised and offended.

"Why does everyone think the worst of us?" sighed Fred.

Everyone in the room gave them a hard look that clearly said, Don't make us list the reasons.

"When he's able, I'd like to visit him," said Serena.

"Of course, Professor Castleton-Black. I'll let you know as soon as he can have visitors."

The group talked for a few more minutes and then something occurred to George Weasley.

"I don't suppose you'll be postponing our exams?" asked George with some hope. "We really wouldn't want you to tax yourself too much, Professor…"

She offered George a wry smile. "I hate to disappoint you, Mr. Weasley, but your exams will move forward as scheduled. I'm well enough to do some of them. Professor Snape will be assisting with the tests for the lower classes, and Tonks will be helping me with the more advanced classes."

George and Fred looked crestfallen.

"Now," said Serena, "you two should toddle off, I think, and get to your studies."

After the students all filed out of the room, Molly Weasley sat on the edge of Serena's bed and looked at her with an appraising eye. "And how are you feeling, dear? That was quite something…"

"I'm fine," Serena reassured them. "I'm just very tired. Did you get the Medallion?" She looked at Dumbledore.

"Yes, my dear, we did, and now it is in a very safe place where it won't be used for evil intent."

The conversation meandered and wandered for a time, touching on topic ranging from details on Serena's finals to Quidditch to the upcoming summer. Finally, Lupin said what they'd all thought at one point or another.

"The Avatarus spell is risky. Not many people learn it, let alone dare use it." His face was thoughtful.

"This really isn't the time for an inquisition," Snape snapped, sitting up straighter in his chair, prepared to run Lupin straight out of the room if he had to.

"This isn't an inquisition; it is a simple question," Lupin replied without looking at Snape.

"Yes, it is a dangerous spell. In the aftermath of Castlebann, I learned a lot of spells that perhaps I shouldn't have." Serena shrugged. "But, one must know the Dark Arts in order to teach people how to defend against them…"

"She has an excellent point," said Dumbledore with a knowing and satisfied look.

"What happened to Malificus?" asked Serena. The room was silent and they all looked at each other.

"We're not entirely sure," McGonagall said finally. "I'm guessing that Lucius was at the field with the other Death Eaters, although we have no way to prove that. From what I've been able to discover, Lucius Malfoy suddenly appeared at St. Mungo's last night with Malificus, claiming that a spell went horribly awry and he had found his brother close to death. They have him in a private suite, and of course, Lucius has brought in a private physician. So no one really knows anything except that Malificus is alive, but he is unconscious."

"I see," said Serena. I'd rather hoped he'd be dead.

"Okay," said Madame Pomfrey. "That is all for now. All of you… Out! It is time for Serena to get some rest. And that means you too, Professor Snape. You need to go home and get a little rest yourself."

She chased the group out of the infirmary and gave Serena a chance to nap. An hour later, after she had rested, Serena felt good enough to pick an argument with Hogwart's head nurse.

"No," she said firmly. "I'm going to see him, and I'm going alone. When I'm done you can both fuss and bother over me all you like." She looked at Madame Pomfrey stubbornly.

Pomfrey followed Serena down the hall to one of the private rooms where Neville was resting just to be certain Serena didn't faint or slip in the hall. Once she put her hand on Neville's door, Serena looked back at the nurse and raised an eyebrow. Madame Pomfrey raised a warning finger at Serena and walked into another room.

The Dark Arts professor knocked on the door and as she turned the handle, she said, "Mr. Longbottom? May I come in?"

"Professor!" Neville sounded relieved. "You're okay!"

"Yes," she said with a wan smile. The simple walk down the hall had taken a lot out of her. "Thanks to you, I'm just fine."

She came and sat by the bed. Across from her, Neville's Gran, dressed in her usual formal attire, watched Serena with her usual weighty and measuring glance.

"Mrs. Longbottom, I'm glad to see you again. I'm sorry it is for something like this."

"Thank you, Professor Castleton-Black. I'm pleased to see that you've come through this as well." She glanced down at the boy, and Serena could see the affection in her eyes despite her stoic and reserved demeanor.

"I appreciate that, Mrs. Longbottom." Then she turned to her student. "Neville, what you did was a very brave and selfless thing, and I'm grateful for that."

Neville blushed up to the top of his ears.

"Your parents would be so proud…" said Mrs. Longbottom unexpectedly.

Serena saw Neville's eyes get shiny as his Grandmother mentioned his parents. Serena knew they were in St. Mungo's after being tortured by Death Eaters.

"Yes, I believe they would be, and if I ever get the opportunity, I will tell them how grateful I am in person," Serena told him.

"Thank you, Professor. That means a lot to me…" said Neville with a sniffle that he tried to hide.

Then Serena said, "I also wanted to let you know that I've spoken to the Headmaster, and we've agreed that you'll be excused from the Defense Against Dark Arts final, and that you'll also receive a perfect grade for the year."

Neville's head shot up and his mouth gaped open. "What?" he gasped.

"You banished a Dominatus Crystal, one of the vilest of the dark spells," said Serena with a smile. "If that doesn't earn a passing grade, then I don't know what does.

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Please read and review… we're winding down, folks. Not too much left. Let me know how you're feeling about the story thus far…