Madam Pomfrey watched from the doorway wand at the ready alert for anything amiss - a plume of noxious gas, energy erupting from the cauldron, an incantation gone amiss, anything - anything at all. She had guarded his back once before unasked but not unacknowledged. She had realized then that one could become almost hypnotized watching a master at work be it a conductor, a surgeon, or in this case, a potions master. Masters exuded an intensity that trapped the unwary audience in a cocoon of complacency aware of nothing but that which held them enthralled. She had fallen into just such a moment's inattention two weeks ago; the lapse had nearly cost them both their lives. Today she had spells, charms and hexes enough to heal, to kill or to enslave, if things came to that.
Madam Pomfrey did not dare look away as Snape exerted all his knowledge, power and ruthlessness to control the vile, dense smoky man-like presence imprisoned within the master's spherical maelstrom of scorching energy. The parademon writhed in frustration screaming in shrill fury as its life force slowly ebbed away absorbed by its very prison. Yet, all through its torment, a watchful eye it did keep on the mortal for any weakness to exploit. All the mortals it had known before were weak and vain. Earlier the demon had sought some easy purchase to deceive this dark one but it had failed. The demon then caviled and cajoled for its release but still the mortal stood firm. The demon decided to further test his captor's resolve by appealing to that very mortal of failings - love.
The demon focused its will leeching every yearning thought, whispered wish and act of love from his captor's mind and heart. The demon crowed in glee for this mortal had not enough love as recompense for the pain, loneliness and guilt that festered within his soul. Gathering its remaining strength, the demon hurled its last weapon - a flashing stream of images taken from Snape's mind. The demon magnified and augmented the memories with his captor's most ardent desires and most heinous sins. The weapon met little resistance. But it was ineffective for it was enveloped within the master's stoic acceptance of what he was, what he is. The images grew transparent before dissolving into finely grained sand which rained down on to the dungeon floor. Ceding the victory to his captor, the demon ceased its frantic movements and kneeled. It surrendered with one whispered word, bowed and vanished. Snape fell to his knees in exhaustion but his black eyes shone bright with exultation. He had demanded and won the most precious thing to any of the hellspawn - it's true name. His demon slave was named "Velos."
Pomfrey shielded her eyes and uttered the words to transfer all the absorbed demonic energy from the energy cell into the simmering cauldron on Snape's worktable. As the energy was transferred, the energy cell became smaller and smaller finally sparking one last time before dissipating completely. Quickly, she added two drops of phoenix's tears. Waving her wand over the cauldron, she said the spell Severus had created just for this occasion. "Intra Suspenso exta Tempore."
The potion congealed to a mesmerizing silver with random swirls of violet and gold. Confident that the volatile potion was now safely suspended until it could be dealt with, she turned to Severus and met his eyes. Both their faces burst into wide grins. As Snape's shoulders sagged in fatigue, Pomfrey put his left arm around her neck and wrapped her right arm around his waist. With her help and the remnants of his own strength, they made it to his quarters. As they entered, Snape began to tremble. Perspiration dripped from his forehead. A vein pulsed angrily on his forehead. His control finally shattered giving full rein to the shock and stress that battered his psyche and body.
Pomfrey removed his outer robe as she helped him into bed. She wiped the perspiration off his forehead, placed a warming spell on the bed and started a crackling fire in the hearth. Snape twitched and shuddered as the matron recited a series of healing spells over him. She tapped his forehead gently and waited. Her patience was rewarded when a silvery, wraith-like shadow emerged from the prone body of the potions master. In profile, the shadow had the same height, figure, hooked nose, thin lips and strong chin as his primogenitor but the face in general seemed younger and the hair was long and sleekly tied back in a ponytail.
"Make sure he sleeps now, won't you? And none of your usual mischief, " Pomfrey instructed. The guardian nodded and took a seat in an armchair by the fire. "Inform him that I've suspended the potion until later. I will return in exactly 3 hours and assist in the final preparations. If you surmise anything happening with him call me or Dumbledore immediately. Give me your word on that. "
The shadow stood up, made to cross his heart and raised an open palm. "You have my word as Snape."
Satisfied, the nurse left and headed for the main hall.
Before lunch the entrance hall was packed with students adding their names to the various lists posted on the walls. As names were added, the parchments magically elongated to accommodate more. Hermione filled in her name on four lectures and three seminars. Harry was the first to sign up for "Surrounded, No Wand, No Problem - Wandless Self Defense" and "Defensive Flying Skills." Ron enthusiastically signed up for "Wizards Chess Battle Strategies Applied to Real Life." The Slytherins passed around the sign up list for the lecture called "Practical Advantages of the Dark Arts" among themselves. "Theoretical Vectors and Variants in Strategies" was popular with the Ravenclaws. Meanwhile "A Guide to Self Discovery and Stress Management" was over full with Hufflepuffs.
Madam Pomfrey walked over to stand next to Dumbledore who was watching the milling students. His face was grim as he heard her report.
"It's done, Albus, and none too soon. Severus picked a stubborn one. He's sleeping right now and being watched." Albus cocked an eyebrow at her to which she replied. "You just have to appeal to its sense of honor and chivalry."
Three hours later, Pomfrey entered Snape's quarters with a food-laden tray. She almost dropped the tray at the sight that greeted her. The wraith was reclined on a chair by the bed reading aloud from a book. Snape had his eyes closed listening. It sounded like poetry to her. She said rather loudly, "Severus, I've brought lunch."
"Thank you, Poppy," Snape stretched out his arms and ran a hand through his hair. Pomfrey placed the tray on his bed.
"Well, eat up while I prepare the vials," Pomfrey left Snape to his meal and headed for the private workroom.
"I'll be there in a few minutes," Snape called to her departing figure. The wraith looked at the tray curiously. It could not smell or taste so food was merely a concept to it. "Well, back in you go."
Snape breathed in deeply and tried to relax as he once again felt the warm but clammy sensation whenever his shadow returned to himself. We're going to be together for the rest of my life. I suppose I will get used to even this eventually.