A/N Ok, since someone asked me how this is going to turn out, here's my answer. I hate happy endings. Is that good enough for you? XD Just kidding but seriously. I hate happy endings. Uhm… I've had to put thoughts in Bold and Italicized because it won't let me use what I normally use for thoughts here. Characters belong to J.K Rowling. I'm just having fun with them. Enjoy. Roses
Let me not mar that perfect Dream
By an Auroral stain
But so adjust my daily Night
That it will come again.
Not when we know, the Power accosts—
The Garment of Surprise
Was all our timid Mother wore
At Home—in Paradise.
"Let me not mar that perfect Dream" Emily Dickinson
Chapter 5
"Do you think we should wake him up headmaster?"
"No, I believe we should let him sleep. He's been under a lot of… stress… to say the least."
Snape opened his eyes. For a second his vision was blurred but then it evened out. It was warm and he was in a soft bed. Curtains were drawn around him.
The hospital wing?
It suddenly all came back to Severus. He shot up in bed looking wildly around, scrambling to get up.
"Headmaster? Headmaster!"
The two figures behind the curtain appeared.
"Ah Severus. You are awake at last."
Snape opened his mouth but Dumbledore held up his hand in protest.
"We will speak of Minerva's health after we talk later about what happened. I'm sure the Minister would also be very interested to hear your story. There are not many reasons for using an unforgivable curse Severus."
Dumbledore looked very strict over his half-moon spectacles. Snape began to protest.
"Sir! You need to check the Shrieking Shack! Bellatrix Black did thi-…"
Dumbledore butted in.
"The premises of the Shrieking Shack have indeed been checked from top to bottom. Bellatrix Black was nowhere to be found however it was apparent that someone was very badly hurt and that two people have been living there for quite sometime."
Dumbledore placed his hand on Severus' arm and he looked down to it.
"Everything will be alright m'boy. Until then, you really should rest."
At this Dumbledore stood, smiled down at Severus, and walked away. Severus laid down on the bed, his eyes staring up at the ceiling. The last rays of the day were filtering through the high vaulted windows and he could vaguely hear murmurs of jovial talk from the great hall. It was obviously dinnertime.
How long have I been asleep?
At this, Severus rolled over onto his left side looking through the curtains. There was another bed and a form that seemed to have trouble breathing occupied it. Severus' mind jogged with the image of Minerva's punctured chest.
Is that…?
He lifted himself up and slid his legs over the bed edge, his feet hitting amazingly warm tile.
"Minerva…? "
He managed to croak as he stood and began to walk around the curtains looking to the bed. It was indeed Minerva. Her legs were back to normal however he could obviously see that underneath the covers they were badly inflamed. A single hand rested over her chest lowering slowly with her breathing. It was covered in several inches of bandages and already Severus could see the faint outline of blood seeping through them. His lower jaw quivered but he steadied it and looked up to her face. Her neck was being straightened out by pieces of wood to keep it steady. Her face seemed quite different from the rest of her body. A faint trace of a smile was upon her lips as her eyelids held her peace. Underneath her eyes were shadows; she had obviously not slept in a long time. Her hair was spread out evenly beneath her head and had been released from its confinement of a bun. The edges of her hairline had been matted down to her skin with sweat for each breath she took she had to make much effort to do. Severus' knees began to become unsteady and he braced himself against the curtain pole.
"Oh! Severus! You shouldn't be out of bed yet!"
Poppy bustled over to him tsking at him. She grabbed him by the arm and the two sauntered over to his bed, Poppy helping him under the covers.
"There you go Severus… now, you're in bed. My word, you were shakin' like a leaf and everythin'! Lucky I saw you when I did."
She waved her wand and a bottle of potion came from across the room and she uncorked it. Severus didn't care or notice. He was too busy looking at the form that was Minerva lying behind the white curtain.
"Here you go Severus."
Poppy handed him the bottle and Severus absentmindedly drank it. He was rather shocked when it entered his mouth. It was warm and tasted like Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Peppermint. He gulped the rest of it down, it warming him all over. Poppy smiled at him and magicked his bed up a bit more.
"That should make you feel more relaxed Severus. One of the best potions you ever have made for me!"
She grinned at him and Severus tilted his head to the side.
"That was one I brewed for you?"
Poppy nodded and began to fiddle with the sheets on his bed.
"Hmm… it tasted like… Christmas."
Poppy laughed at him and patted his arm soothingly.
"That's right Severus. Now then, you get some sleep and when you wake up in the mornin', I'll make sure the house elves bring you up your favorite breakfast and then I'm sure you can go back to living in your own room."
Severus nodded and looked back over to Minerva.
"Tell me something, how is she? Dumbledore wouldn't tell me… but I really need to know."
Poppy sighed and glanced over to Minerva.
"The poor dearie. She's been through quite a lot in the past few days and I haven't been able to help much. I've been using the rest of my most powerful potions that you brewed for me. I've been able to get her breathing stamina under control but it's hard work for her. You can't easily be fixed up when you're her age and went through that much. I had to rebreak her neck, only it was a bit different. It was just separating the vertebrae and keeping her neck straight for a while. Her hands are quite a number too. Why that Black girl wanted to do such a thing I'll never know…"
Poppy broke off at this and sighed. There was one question that Severus had been dying to know.
"… And her… legs? Will she ever…?"
Poppy looked to him with great sadness in her eyes.
"You mean walk again? Truthfully, 'tis hard to tell… her legs were broken in so many places that not even Skele-grow would work on her. No, I'm afraid that Minerva McGonagall may never walk again much to my dismay…"
Severus hung his head in shame. It was his fault; all of… this… was his fault. She would never walk again. Hogwarts would have to employ a new headmistress and transfiguration professor and it was his entire bloody fault. Why couldn't he have found her sooner? He hid his pain like he had done all of his life by rolling over onto his side and feigning sleep. Poppy got up and left. Silently Severus Snape watched Minerva McGonagall until he finally was overcome with drowsiness and the stars had set in the night sky.
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