A/N: Wow, you guys are really too much. Thanks for reviewing. It means a
great deal. If you didn't see it, I left a little note to all of you in
the review section. Sorry you've had to wait. Hope you like it and
please, please, I know I'm not the best writer in the world, not even
close, so if you have any suggestions, please feel free to send them my
way. Thanks so much.
Once outside the infirmary, Narnia slowed her pace and stepped nearer to the wall in order to steady herself. She reached out a hand to place it on the cold stone, when she stopped in mid-air to observe that it was the very same one Severus' had held only moments ago. The warmth of his calloused, unsteady hand still lingered and she closed her eyes trying to etch its memory into her mind. The great amount of relief she began to feel due to his reaction escaped her in the form of a sigh, mingled with her own unexpected laughter. Quieting herself she dared a glance down the corridors to ensure that she had been undetected and finding it so, she stood straight again and went on her way.
As her feet carried her along, she thought again of Severus' expression as he regarded her. She felt her face flush. Perhaps her mind's images were becoming distorted already, but in further contemplation he appeared to have been looking at her as if seeing her for the first time, as if she were some enigma to him. Narnia slowed her gait. Did he already know what brought her to that clearing nights before? If so, was he, contrary to what she had originally thought would be his reaction, embracing this.....this.....connection between them? She felt her reddened cheeks deepen more and the hope welling up inside her caused a slow grin to slide onto her face. What had passed between them in the infirmary was providing her with a new security in their relationship that all the recollections of Severus keeping her at arm's length just weeks before were all but shoved out of her mind completely.
Rounding a corner, she noticed Potter heading in her direction. Both student and professor were aware of each other in the same moment, also realizing they had yet to speak to one another since the evening in her uncle's office.
"Happy Christmas, Harry," Narnia said, smiling, as she stopped a few feet from the Gryffindor.
"Happy Christmas, Professor," he replied. "Thanks for the Chocolate Frogs."
"Oh, well, it's not much really, but you're quite welcome."
They stood in silence for a moment, before Narnia spoke.
"No Ron today?"
"He's with Ginny."
"I see. Well, then, perhaps if you'd care for some, I could keep you company for awhile?"
Harry made his affirmations with a nod of his head and they began to walk together in the direction Narnia had just came from. Some moments passed before they spoke.
"I'm not sure whether Professor Dumbledore mentioned this or not, but I wonder if I could ask a favor from you?"
"Of course, Professor."
"It pertains to what....happened...the other night." She looked over at Harry to gauge his reaction, only to see him stiffen slightly. He only looked down at the floor as they walked.
"If we could keep my involvement just between the four of us, I would be very appreciative."
Harry cast a sideways glance at his professor. "Of course. By the four of us, you mean, between me, you, Professor Dumbledore, and Sna.....Professor Snape?"
"Yes."
Harry seemed somewhat relieved to have the topic out in the open. They walked along, again, quietly, before Harry chimed in.
"So, then, you told him. Professor Snape, I mean. He knows everything."
"Well, no, actually, not yet, but he will be told soon enough I suppose."
Narnia noticed the slump in Harry's shoulders. "Well, he wasn't too thrilled about my dad saving his neck. I'm sure life will be grand once he's told," he stated in a low, defeated voice.
"He just may surprise you, Harry. Who knows."
Suddenly, standing before them, at the end of the corridor, was Remus Lupin.
"Ah, I've found you at last," Lupin stated, approaching them with a warm expression. "Happy Christmas to you both," he stated as he clasped a hand on Harry's shoulder and then turned his attentions to Narnia.
"And to you, Remus," Narnia stated.
"Would you care to join me for a bite to eat?" he asked looking between Harry and Narnia. They conceded and made their way to the Great Hall.
As they walked, Harry and Lupin exchanged their gratitude towards one another for their gifts, while Narnia walked silently beside them, allowing them a moment to catch up. Lupin brought Narnia out of her reverie, by directing a question at her, one which he had to repeat once he had her attention.
"How have you been, Narnia?" he stated, his expression indicating some knowledge of what had occurred recently. "Fine, thank you. You have spoken to my uncle?"
"Briefly," he stated, concern outlining his features.
"Harry and I were just discussing what had happened," Narnia informed him, in order to signal that the topic could be freely discussed with Harry present. Lupin seemed to pick up on Narnia's go ahead.
"How is Severus?" he asked. Narnia now had both of their attentions.
"Much better. He's awake. Poppy was.... urging him to eat when I left and not having much success, I'm afraid."
To Narnia's surprise, Remus chuckled, then replied, "Severus never did strike me as one to be fussed over. I'm sure he's loving this."
The three of them shared an amused smile at Lupin's comment and entered the Great Hall, turning the conversation onto lighter topics.
Christmas had come and gone and in the last several days since it's passing, Narnia had been disappointed in the lack of opportunities to speak with Severus. Her courage to speak to him on the matters surrounding his rescue had increased, mainly due to her growing belief that he somehow already knew and seemed okay with it. She had been in to visit him in the infirmary, several times Christmas day, only to find him resting. Then, later that evening, he had requested to spend the remainder of the holidays in his own quarters and unwilling to breach his privacy, Narnia refrained from calling on him, settling for tidbits of information from Poppy or the Headmaster. From what she had been told, Severus had recovered almost entirely and most likely would return to teaching along with everyone else.
Narnia was spending a quiet evening in the confines of her room when a knock came at her door. She had been in mid-sentence in a letter she was writing to her grandmother when she absentmindedly laid down the quill and went to her door. She was delighted to see her uncle on the other side and ushered him to a place by the fire.
"My dear, I can only stay for a moment," he stated, declining the offered chair. Narnia made her way back across the rooms, towards her uncle. "I'm on my way to speak with Severus and wanted to make you aware of my plans to do so.
"As anyone who knows him well would expect, he is quite curious about the circumstances surrounding the other evening and I find it is time for him to be informed."
Narnia's nerves began to excite themselves.
"My telling of the events will, undoubtedly, stop at a certain point, leaving some gaps to be filled in by you, if you so wish to do so. I am positive he suspects Harry's doing, but am equally sure he will be surprised to hear of your involvement.
"It is entirely up to you to decide when and what to tell him. If you have no objections, you are most welcome to come with me now and though you alone must tell of your part, I will stay with you through it."
Narnia had thought herself ready to tell him, everything, but suddenly facing it found her doubtful. Her confidence wavered at her uncle's firm belief Severus' was unaware of her participation in the matter. Her role in the story was central and couldn't be avoided. He would have to be told and perhaps better it be all in one shot than allowing it to dwindle. Her uncle would be there for support, something she would definitely be in need of.
"It is not my intent to pressure you. I only wished to make you aware of my actions so that in the event that Severus comes to you, you will be ready."
"I believe I must do this now, Uncle, not only for Severus' sake, but for my own. I've waited so long."
With her resolve in place, she stepped into the corridor, with Dumbledore close behind. They quietly made their way to the dungeons, Narnia's arm wrapped around her uncle's, her thoughts around the situation looming nearby. Dumbledore patted her hand along the way, offering some bit of comfort. Finally, they stopped in front of a doorway, Narnia supposing it to be Severus' chambers. Her uncle knocked and when the door swung open, Narnia's heart swelled upon seeing its inhabitant.
Once outside the infirmary, Narnia slowed her pace and stepped nearer to the wall in order to steady herself. She reached out a hand to place it on the cold stone, when she stopped in mid-air to observe that it was the very same one Severus' had held only moments ago. The warmth of his calloused, unsteady hand still lingered and she closed her eyes trying to etch its memory into her mind. The great amount of relief she began to feel due to his reaction escaped her in the form of a sigh, mingled with her own unexpected laughter. Quieting herself she dared a glance down the corridors to ensure that she had been undetected and finding it so, she stood straight again and went on her way.
As her feet carried her along, she thought again of Severus' expression as he regarded her. She felt her face flush. Perhaps her mind's images were becoming distorted already, but in further contemplation he appeared to have been looking at her as if seeing her for the first time, as if she were some enigma to him. Narnia slowed her gait. Did he already know what brought her to that clearing nights before? If so, was he, contrary to what she had originally thought would be his reaction, embracing this.....this.....connection between them? She felt her reddened cheeks deepen more and the hope welling up inside her caused a slow grin to slide onto her face. What had passed between them in the infirmary was providing her with a new security in their relationship that all the recollections of Severus keeping her at arm's length just weeks before were all but shoved out of her mind completely.
Rounding a corner, she noticed Potter heading in her direction. Both student and professor were aware of each other in the same moment, also realizing they had yet to speak to one another since the evening in her uncle's office.
"Happy Christmas, Harry," Narnia said, smiling, as she stopped a few feet from the Gryffindor.
"Happy Christmas, Professor," he replied. "Thanks for the Chocolate Frogs."
"Oh, well, it's not much really, but you're quite welcome."
They stood in silence for a moment, before Narnia spoke.
"No Ron today?"
"He's with Ginny."
"I see. Well, then, perhaps if you'd care for some, I could keep you company for awhile?"
Harry made his affirmations with a nod of his head and they began to walk together in the direction Narnia had just came from. Some moments passed before they spoke.
"I'm not sure whether Professor Dumbledore mentioned this or not, but I wonder if I could ask a favor from you?"
"Of course, Professor."
"It pertains to what....happened...the other night." She looked over at Harry to gauge his reaction, only to see him stiffen slightly. He only looked down at the floor as they walked.
"If we could keep my involvement just between the four of us, I would be very appreciative."
Harry cast a sideways glance at his professor. "Of course. By the four of us, you mean, between me, you, Professor Dumbledore, and Sna.....Professor Snape?"
"Yes."
Harry seemed somewhat relieved to have the topic out in the open. They walked along, again, quietly, before Harry chimed in.
"So, then, you told him. Professor Snape, I mean. He knows everything."
"Well, no, actually, not yet, but he will be told soon enough I suppose."
Narnia noticed the slump in Harry's shoulders. "Well, he wasn't too thrilled about my dad saving his neck. I'm sure life will be grand once he's told," he stated in a low, defeated voice.
"He just may surprise you, Harry. Who knows."
Suddenly, standing before them, at the end of the corridor, was Remus Lupin.
"Ah, I've found you at last," Lupin stated, approaching them with a warm expression. "Happy Christmas to you both," he stated as he clasped a hand on Harry's shoulder and then turned his attentions to Narnia.
"And to you, Remus," Narnia stated.
"Would you care to join me for a bite to eat?" he asked looking between Harry and Narnia. They conceded and made their way to the Great Hall.
As they walked, Harry and Lupin exchanged their gratitude towards one another for their gifts, while Narnia walked silently beside them, allowing them a moment to catch up. Lupin brought Narnia out of her reverie, by directing a question at her, one which he had to repeat once he had her attention.
"How have you been, Narnia?" he stated, his expression indicating some knowledge of what had occurred recently. "Fine, thank you. You have spoken to my uncle?"
"Briefly," he stated, concern outlining his features.
"Harry and I were just discussing what had happened," Narnia informed him, in order to signal that the topic could be freely discussed with Harry present. Lupin seemed to pick up on Narnia's go ahead.
"How is Severus?" he asked. Narnia now had both of their attentions.
"Much better. He's awake. Poppy was.... urging him to eat when I left and not having much success, I'm afraid."
To Narnia's surprise, Remus chuckled, then replied, "Severus never did strike me as one to be fussed over. I'm sure he's loving this."
The three of them shared an amused smile at Lupin's comment and entered the Great Hall, turning the conversation onto lighter topics.
Christmas had come and gone and in the last several days since it's passing, Narnia had been disappointed in the lack of opportunities to speak with Severus. Her courage to speak to him on the matters surrounding his rescue had increased, mainly due to her growing belief that he somehow already knew and seemed okay with it. She had been in to visit him in the infirmary, several times Christmas day, only to find him resting. Then, later that evening, he had requested to spend the remainder of the holidays in his own quarters and unwilling to breach his privacy, Narnia refrained from calling on him, settling for tidbits of information from Poppy or the Headmaster. From what she had been told, Severus had recovered almost entirely and most likely would return to teaching along with everyone else.
Narnia was spending a quiet evening in the confines of her room when a knock came at her door. She had been in mid-sentence in a letter she was writing to her grandmother when she absentmindedly laid down the quill and went to her door. She was delighted to see her uncle on the other side and ushered him to a place by the fire.
"My dear, I can only stay for a moment," he stated, declining the offered chair. Narnia made her way back across the rooms, towards her uncle. "I'm on my way to speak with Severus and wanted to make you aware of my plans to do so.
"As anyone who knows him well would expect, he is quite curious about the circumstances surrounding the other evening and I find it is time for him to be informed."
Narnia's nerves began to excite themselves.
"My telling of the events will, undoubtedly, stop at a certain point, leaving some gaps to be filled in by you, if you so wish to do so. I am positive he suspects Harry's doing, but am equally sure he will be surprised to hear of your involvement.
"It is entirely up to you to decide when and what to tell him. If you have no objections, you are most welcome to come with me now and though you alone must tell of your part, I will stay with you through it."
Narnia had thought herself ready to tell him, everything, but suddenly facing it found her doubtful. Her confidence wavered at her uncle's firm belief Severus' was unaware of her participation in the matter. Her role in the story was central and couldn't be avoided. He would have to be told and perhaps better it be all in one shot than allowing it to dwindle. Her uncle would be there for support, something she would definitely be in need of.
"It is not my intent to pressure you. I only wished to make you aware of my actions so that in the event that Severus comes to you, you will be ready."
"I believe I must do this now, Uncle, not only for Severus' sake, but for my own. I've waited so long."
With her resolve in place, she stepped into the corridor, with Dumbledore close behind. They quietly made their way to the dungeons, Narnia's arm wrapped around her uncle's, her thoughts around the situation looming nearby. Dumbledore patted her hand along the way, offering some bit of comfort. Finally, they stopped in front of a doorway, Narnia supposing it to be Severus' chambers. Her uncle knocked and when the door swung open, Narnia's heart swelled upon seeing its inhabitant.