Chapter Seven

Black mist clouded her vision as she fell into a pair of kind hands. There was a hazy sensation of being laid upon a bed and indistinct voices blurring into one another around her. Moaning softly, she made an attempt to sit up. Her head swam violently, and someone put a hand on her shoulder and eased her back down. She was vaguely aware of Madame Pomfrey bustling around her and a cool drop of liquid on her tongue. Slowly, her vision slid into focus and her head settled. The surrounding voices gradually regained their familiar tones.

Two weeks into term, two weeks, and I end up in the hospital wing. That has to be some sort of record for me.

"What happened?" Madame Pomfrey addressed Dumbledore after checking Kate over.

"She fainted after taking a strong Calming Potion, Poppy."

"She ought to come round in a few minutes," said Poppy, "but I would like her to stay here overnight. After all she's been through this evening I think it would be best."

"Of course, Poppy. Minerva, please go to the Gryffindor common room and let Katharine's friends know that she is alright."

"Should I tell them anything of what happened?"

"As little as possible..." Dumbledore broke off as Kate sighed softly. He stepped closer to the bed.

"Tell them she will be spending the night in the hospital wing and will see them tomorrow," said Dumbledore, smiling down at Kate gently.

Kate was soon sitting in the hospital bed, a goblet in her hand containing a potion Madame Pomfrey had forced upon her. She carefully sipped at it, and pulled a face. She smiled as she heard voices arguing with Professor Dumbledore outside of the hospital wing.

"Please, Professor-"

"Just a few minutes-"

Dumbledore slipped back inside the hospital wing for a moment. "Severus, I would like to speak to you in my office."

"Of course, sir." Standing up, Severus turned to Kate. "Your actions were most admirable tonight. You kept your head where others would have fallen apart. You are clearly taking your studies very seriously."

"Thank you, Professor," said Kate with a small smile. Snape swept away along the wing, and her friends burst in the door. She couldn't help but grin as Minerva McGonagall looked on somewhat disapprovingly from the doorway. Soon, all three of the Professors had left, and Kate was relating the story to the six people gathered around her bed. A lively discussion ensued, only ending when Madame Pomfrey pointed her wand threateningly at them, ordering them out.

Meanwhile, Snape was stalking along in silence beside Albus Dumbledore. Really, the last thing he felt like doing was talking about the events in the dungeons. He would much prefer being left alone. It was with a scowl that he sat down opposite Dumbledore in a chair by the fire.

"How are you feeling, Severus?" Dumbledore spoke with his usual softness.

"Can't this wait until later, Albus?" Snape spoke irritably.

"You know that it cannot, Severus." Dumbledore gazed into the fire for a moment. "How are you feeling?"

"I shall be quite capable of teaching after the weekend, I assure you." He flicked a strand of hair from his face.

"How was Katharine during the fight? I have heard her story, I have heard from her what she did, but how did she react?"

"She acted as though she were a fully trained Auror, Albus. Not even when she was clearly in pain did she even look as though she was going to give up. Her actions really were most admirable. She has clearly taken her studies seriously; she was able to work some of the more complex spells well." Snape drummed his fingers against his knee for a moment. He wanted nothing more than to get out of Dumbledore's office.

Dumbledore gazed into the fire for a few minutes, trying to sense of where he should go next. Severus Snape was a difficult man to read at times, and he was proving particularly hard tonight.

Snape took the moments of quiet to make some attempt at gathering his thoughts; since he had come around fully in the hospital wing, he had been distracted by thoughts of Katharine and her well-being. He felt unnerved to be so worried about a student. It wasn't a crush, it couldn't possibly be, but he still felt worried about her. He knew he had taken spells meant for Katharine during the fight, and he had silently cursed when some of the spells hit Katharine and clearly caused her pain. He shook himself. It was happening again.

"Severus, are you quite sure that you are alright? You seem distracted by something." Albus Dumbledore lightly rested his piercing blue gaze on the Potion's Master. "I know you are hurt, I know you are exhausted, but what is it, Severus? If only you wouldn't insist on always pushing people away..." A quiet, sad sigh followed this statement.

Severus stood up suddenly from his seat. "Yes, Headmaster. You are quite correct. I am hurt, yes, I am exhausted, yes, and I can accept that. But what I cannot accept is why I cannot keep my mind from thinking on Katharine's well-being!" He strode away from the fireplace, turning away from Dumbledore.

"It is because you care, Severus." Dumbledore spoke simply. Severus whirled to face Dumbledore. "I know it is hard for you to accept, but you do."

"I don't even want to think about this anymore." Severus Snape turned sharply, and strode out the door.