He was mad, at first, her breaking curfew but even he had to admit she was almost as good as a mediwitch as she was in potions or herbology or anything, really.
"How did you learn all of this, Virginia?" He asked, once, when she was healing a burn on his scalp and murmuring a charm to have his burnt hair grow back to it's original length.
"I'm sure you of all people, Professor, are aware that I do not come from wealth. You learn what you need to, in a crisis, in a house full of boys." she answered softly. She reached out to touch the new hair that was falling in his eyes. She ran her fingers down it, giving it a slight tug. "Good as new, sir." she said. He reached out and placed a hand on her arm.
"You should return to your tower, now." he said but she didn't move her hand and he didn't let go. Ginny gulped and couldn't help looking at his mouth. When had she fallen for this man, why had she let her self? she was sixteen and he must be almost forty, at least, yet she they had something in common. He didn't treat her like another sniveling student and she didn't fear him or hate him. She rather liked the time they spent together, truth be told.
"Yes, sir. I should." she said. "I do hope you're taking every precaution, though, on your work for the ministry. I couldn't bear it if I should wait here and you never return." He swallowed heard and found himself nodding.
"You should take this key and wait in my office. It would be more comfortable." he said. She took the thick, ornate key he offered still warm from his pocket, to the one door in the classroom that was always locked.
"I thought you didn't want me to wait at all." she smiled. "Goodnight, Professor."
"Goodnight, Ginny." he said, after she was gone.
In her bed, with her drapes pulled around her, she wondered what it would be like to kiss him. Would he slap her? Was she reading him all wrong? Part of her longed for her to treat him just the same as the other students and part of her reveled in the special treatment. She listened carefully. Three of her roommates were gone. Hannah was probably still in the infirmary from her Quidditch accident and Susan had been sleeping in the boys dormitory since her fourth year. she hadn't a clue where Gemma was but... well, no one had questioned Ginny's whereabouts the last few weeks and so she wasn't going to pry, either. She slept a dreamless sleep.
The next week, she didn't feel well. Harry and Ron asked her repeatedly if she was all right and it was Hermione who finally marched her down the infirmary.
"I have to teach my class." she mumbled as Madam Pomfrey tucked her into the lumpy cot.
"I'll talk to Professor Dumbledore." Hermione promised.
"You have a nasty fever, Miss Weasley." Pomfrey clucked. "Drink up, drink up." She gave Ginny a sleeping potion and Ginny closed her eyes. The next day was a blur. Every time she woke up, she was made to eat some chocolate and put back to sleep. She felt weak and nauseous. She remembered Harry there, and then Ron reading a letter from their mother. She couldn't eat, and couldn't stay awake. During her third night, she heard voices, shouting just outside the closed double doors.
"Let me in!" she heard and muttering, trying to calm whoever was irate in the corridor. She tried to sit up but couldn't, and the lights were out for the night. The doors flew open and she could see someone rushing towards, her looming and dark.
"Virginia." she sighed in relief, wanting to cry. It was Snape.
"Professor, I'm so sorry I had to miss classes." she mumbled, her eyes open, but glazed.
"I came and you weren't there. I – I was worried. I couldn't find you." he said and she swore she could hear his usually cool, calm voice break.
"I don't feel well." she said and reached out her hand to him. His face looked ashen in the pale moonlight. "Where are you hurt, Professor." she asked him, in a whisper. He looked at the tiny hand, for a moment, and then wrapped it in his own.
"Nowhere, just rest." he said. She knew he was lying but didn't think she could mend him now if she had wanted to. She closed her eyes and he made no motions to leave. He held her hand. She woke again she when the sun was rising but didn't open her eyes. She could hear footsteps and she could feel Snape still at her side.
"Severus," the voice belonged to the headmaster. "Severus, come along. We need to talk." She felt her fingers untangle from Snape's and she wanted to call out but she didn't. She kept her eyes closed and her breathing even. She listened to them go.