Disclaimer… Enough said.

Chapter twenty-two
Merloom's Ward

Severus awoke to the incredible pain of his shoulder, which was throbbing madly. However, through the pain of his pounding shoulder Severus heard the light almost silent tap of footsteps. Slightly he opened his eyes careful not to let his enemy know he was awake. Opening his eyes Severus realized that he was in a bed room he didn't recognize with Neil sitting at a table not five feet from him, reading.

Well enemy wasn't to far off. Thought Severus before the almost silent pat of the footsteps drew his attention once more.

Moving just his eyes to the foot of the bed he saw his teacher pacing. Her hands were shoved deeply into the pockets of her habit and her face which was no longer expressionless held a look of mild concern.

"Sarah, your going to wear a hole in your rug." Said Neil without looking up from his book.

Sarah said nothing in reply.

Severus however found his mind full of questions. Why was he in Sarah's room? What the hell happen? And why could he not move his legs?

Severus who has tried to shift slightly in the bed found that he could feel nothing below his shoulders.

"Sarah, why don't you go into your library and read." Suggested Neil. Then looking up he added, "It will help keep your mind off things… Even if just for a little while Sarah. I will call you if he wakes."

Severus felt himself trying to hold back a smirk at the mages arrogance.

"No," said Sarah, "I should stay here. I am his teacher after all."

"Sarah, there is a reason for us all taking turns watching him… It's so you don't always have to be here! Besides, your only going to be in the next room."

"No I'm not." Said his teacher stubbornly, "because I'm not going anywhere."

Neil shrugged in defeat as Severus faded back into darkness.

The next time Severus awoke was to the sound of knocking. As he tentatively opened his eyes as to make sure no one saw him wake Severus's gaze found his teacher who was standing against the wall by the closed door bagging her head, not all to gently, into it repeatedly. She looked tired, board, and extremely anxious.

Severus was distracted from his observation by a stinging in his shoulder. Someone was cleaning his shoulder wound will a warm cloth that had been soaked in some ghastly liquid. Luckily his head was turned away from the person holding the cloth so that he or she could not see his slight grimace as the stinging liquid cleaned his wound.

A moment later Sarah, who had still continued to pound her head into the door, paused for a moment in her quest for brain, "How is it?" she asked.

"The wound is beginning to clear up and the poison is beginning to receding."

Severus recognized the second voice as Emma's. He fought the erg to turnaround, snatch the cloth from her, and ask her what the hell she meant be poison. However, he did realize that he could feel a dull sting in his leg although he couldn't move it. As he began to drift one more into sleep he wondered if the stinging in his leg had anything to do with the poison.

When Severus awoke for the third time he spotted Sarah at the table beside his bed. She was hunched over at least two dozen scrolls of parchment looking intently at one of them. In her right hand she held a lavish red feathered quill which she kept dipping into a small bottle which looked as if it had nothing in it. His teacher also had on a pair of black glasses that were perched on the end of her nose.

She's working with invisible ink. Severus though to himself. But why?

There was a slight knock at the door before Emma stepped in carrying was looked like a basket of medical supplies. "Still asleep?" She asked Sarah.

Sarah looked up at Emma over the black glasses before pulling them off her nose and setting them carefully beside the small bottle.

"I thought I felt him stir a moment ago but I think it was just my mind playing tricks on me. I think lack of sleep is finally getting to me and looking through those horrid glasses doesn't help the matter either."

"You should get some rest. At lest make up a cot in here if you won't leave."

"Perhaps your right. If he doesn't wake by the time you leave I'll sleep."

"All right. I just came in to change the bandages. Neil is going to come in and stay with him in about fifteen minutes."

"Okay, I'm just going to clean up my scrolls and then I'm going to sit back in the chair."

For the first time Severus noticed a large comfortable looking armchair in the farthest corner of the room.

Remaining perfectly still Severus bit his tongue in an attempted not to cry out as Emma began to peel back the bandages. Once she had removed them Severus once again felt the stinging sensation of the stringing cloth being pressed to his wound once more. However this time it was followed by a cooling gel seemed to take most of the pain away, even if only for the moment.

Feeling almost relaxed Severus felt almost as if he would sleep once more, but at that moment Neil chose to open the door. "Ah, Severus it's nice to see your up."

Needless to say Severus was more than startled for he had no idea how the idiotic mage had been able to tell he was awake. Severus had shut his eyes the minute Neil had walked into the room.

"It's nice to see you sneering again."

So that's how he new. Stupid! Stupid!--

"How's your shoulder."

Severus broadened his sneer. "Wounded." He said dryly.

Neil smiled before turning to Emma who looked thoroughly shocked. "W-When did you… When did you wake?"

Severus didn't answer. Instead he turned his sneer on her.

Emma then turned around toward Sarah's still scattered supplies. "Sarah… Sarah?"

Looking over at the cozy armchair Severus saw his teacher curled up, asleep within it.

Neil gave out a low chuckle. "She'll be upset she felt asleep just before you woke up." With that Neil strode over to Sarah and pulled off the outer clock he was wearing over his habit. He then gently laid it over her sleeping form before he kissed her on the head and mumbled something softly to her.

Severus was Ah-struck and appalled at the display of affection but he let none of it show on his face as Neil walked back over toward him. Emma how had gathered up her things head toward the door with a nod to Neil and a smile toward Sarah. Neil looked down at Severus, which made him very uncomfortable, then said, "I sure you have many questions but I think it best that we wait for Sarah to wake. After all she is the reason you can still breath." And with another of his retched smiles he went about collecting Sarah's things before pulling out a book of his own and sitting down to read.

When Severus awoke the next morning Sarah was already gone. Neil and Kaki were the only people in the room. Kaki said she would go get him something to eat, but Severus insisted he was fine and that he just wanted to talk to Sarah. Soon Kaki and Severus began a heated fight which was only broken up by Neil when he began to see tiny lightening bolts ripple through his friends hair and flicker in her eyes.

Once Kaki had returned when a plate of food and in a rather unkindly manner shoved it in Severus's lap she left telling Neil that she would send Sarah up in about half an hour.

Neil nodded before turning to Severus watching him eat.

"What?" Said Severus irritably when he realized the mage was staring at him.

"Nothing," replied the mage. "Would you like to clean up before Sarah arrives?"

Severus reluctantly nodded when he realized just how greasy his hair was. However he was slightly put out when Neil began to mop his face with a warm washcloth.

Severus turned his head away from the cloth and Neil took it away. "Will get you cleaned up proper after Sarah leaves."

Severus raised an eyebrow at the word we only to say that he wouldn't be needing any help.

Once Severus was done eating Neil helped he from the bed, for much to Severus's grief he was unable to do it alone. Neil helped him put on an outer rode over the boxers which seemed to be all he had been wearing.

As soon as they had finished and Severus had taken a seat at the small worktable there was a knock on the door. Neil went to answer it. The door opened to reveal Sarah, holding a steaming mug. She walked over to Severus and handed it to him. Eyeing her slightly he sniffed the mug. Using his keen potions senses he could tell that it was some sort of herbal concoction and that it would taste horrid. However he drank it anyway.

After swallowing it in large gulps Severus worked hard to keep his face impassive. The concoction had been vile and he could still taste the reminisce of it in his mouth. However the longer he sat there, with the mug of the foul tasting liquid still in his hands, the more control he began to have over his legs. He began to be able to feel his toes as he moved them around in the black slippers Neil had given him.

"Perhaps we should move into the library." Sarah said when Severus finished with his mug. "There is more room in there." As Sarah headed into the other room Neil help Severus to his feet and into the library.

Sarah was cleaning off a few books that had been scattered on the table. Severus took a seat at one end of the oval table and Sarah and Neil sat on either side of him.

"Severus first off you should know that you where stabbed… in case you don't remember." Neil looked at him questioningly.

"I remember." Severus replied. "I blackout just as Sarah…" Realization came to his face as he looked at his teacher. "Sarah cut herself."

The mage responded by bowing her head slightly. "I was using my blood to try and transfer a bit of my self healing magic into your system. I was trying to keep you stable until one of the others came and found us."

Neil now started to talk. "The others and myself where stationed by the bar at the time. There we met a few Death Eaters of our own. We killed all but one yet when I went to question him his died…" Neil paused his face gaining a feeling of self loathing. One of the few emotions that Severus new well. "I should have checked for death spells but I didn't no wizards used them. Back home many of our… less loyal citizens use them on there servants to prevent any fatal leeks of information."

"Neil and Merra felt my distress when I used my magic to try and save you. I new that they would be there soon enough so I made no attempt to move you." Sarah turned back to Neil as if asking what to say next.

Neil just kept staring right at Severus. "When we found you to Sarah was near a black out herself. Once we got the both of you back into the carriage Sarah had sobered up slightly and insisted she was fine. So Emma went to work on you and like idiots we all believed Sarah was relatively fine."

Severus through at sharp glance at Sarah who had bowed here head slightly. She refused to look up so Neil continued. "James transformed into an owl and flew ahead to worn Poppy of your coming.

"We took both you and Sarah to the hospital wing yet Sarah refused to be looked at until you were taken care of."

Severus through another quick glance at his teacher who was fingering the rim of the table deeply interested in the lines on the wood.

"Emma looked after Sarah using her syrups to stabilized her while Poppy looked at you. When the Headmaster arrived Poppy told him that some sort of poison had entered your system. Dumbledore immediately demanded that Sarah allow herself to be looked at for he must have realized she had done something to try and save you."

Neil stopped once again another wave of self hatred coming upon him. "I could have killed myself for not realizing it sooner… Severus, when Sarah tried to heal you by allowing her blood to flow into yours she had also allowed your blood and the poison in it to transfer into her."

Severus transferred his heated gaze toward his teacher and she finally looked up. "It wasn't that bad. The knife you have been stabbed with was poisonous. Since I was not directly stabbed it was not as bad."

"But waiting didn't help." Said Neil a bit of anger in his voice. "And you new you didn't feel right… You should have said something."

Sarah paid him no heed. "The poison is the reason you cannot fully control your limbs. However I was able to stop the poison from having any lasting effects on you. If my condition is any judge to your own it will be a few weeks before you fully regain the work of your arms and legs. I still have trouble handling a full fledged sword at the moment."

"Are all the Death Eaters Dead?" Asked Severus after a silence had spread over the room.

"The one that attacked you was still alive when we left." Replied Neil. "He was later taken to your wizarding prison. However he died later that night when they tried to question him."

"How long have I been asleep?" Two day not counting the night we brought you back. After Poppy declared you stable Sarah insisted that since she was your teacher she had the right to care for you as she saw fit. After the Headmaster had a few words with Poppy she allowed you to be brought back here to Sarah's rooms and Sarah was suppose to sleep in the Mage room. Although, she did not leave your side until this morning when I told her you have indeed awakened."

"And what of Mr. Winther then? You seem to have failed to mention him." Severus said slyly.

Sarah looked at him a mad expression on her face. "I saw him killed by a Death Eater when he refused to tell him anything. I arrived mere seconds to late to save him. I am currently researching Mr. Winther to see if he may have left something behind that may give us a clue as to what his knowledge of the Ministry was."

Neil then got up from the table. "Well Severus, I suppose you shall want to get cleaned up now so Sarah if you would excuse us." Sarah nodded and with that he hefted the room leaving Sarah and Severus alone in the library.

All was quiet for a moment before Sara stood and looked down at Severus with remorse clearly written on her face. "Severus you are the oldest student I have ever had. And with that comes the conclusion that you are better able to take care of yourself that the others I've taught… That is why I left you that night. I thought you would be able to handle that Death Eater on your own. However I forgot that fact that, that night I was not only your teacher but I was also your partner. Severus… I'm sorry, because no matter student or partner nothing gave me the right to leave you in such a state that night." And with that she turned a left through the door to her office.

Had to tie up some lose ends in the chapter however I think the question now is what lose ends did Sir Winther leave for Sarah to find and might I add don't just think in material possessions… (evil grin)

I'm going on vacation Saturday for about a week and this Friday I'm busy all day so unfortunately it will be quite a while before the next chap come outL

Thanks to BlackFire who was so understanding as to not chop my dead off when I told her there would be a delay because of computer problems. As for the beta thing I think either she died of her internet is still down… I'm leaning more towards the second reason;)