Chapter Nine: To throw a Sickie

Severus had never felt worse in his life. Opening his eyes was a fight and sitting up was damn near impossible, the ax protruding form his skull limited his abilities. He was frozen and blinded. Severus stumbled around his rooms preparing something for his aches. The softly simmering cauldron wasn't simmering softly enough. He chocked down what he made and gagged. Even the bath he took was more pain than anything else.

"You look like shit." His mirror said as he dressed, he winced at the volume.

"I am perfectly fine." He snapped rather painfully. All his movements were making him quite dizzy and when he met the light of the corridor, it was a blaring pain overload and everything went black.

"Oh shit!" Evelyn cried, as she stepped off the staircase. Severus had missed breakfast completely. She caught him just before he hit the ground. She drug him back into his room and laid him back on his unmade bed. She felt his forehead and neck confirming what she thought. Transfiguring herself a thermometer she checked to see how bad it was. 102.5 the mercury read.

"Fuck." She swore.

"What, what is it?" the mirror exclaimed.

"He's very sick." Evelyn said shortly, throwing aside her jacket and rolling up her sleeves. Evelyn knew she had to try and bring down his temperature, with a flick of her wand she started a bath. Not only was his body temperature close to the dehydration mark but he wasn't responding as the mirror squawked and she swore. Evelyn looked at Severus who was laid out on his back and unresponsive. She quickly removed his cloak and looked at his suit. Why did he insist on wearing clothes with so many buttons? She asked herself as she set to work on his jacket. Her fingers made quick work of the coat and sluffed it off. A button up shirt under it. She groaned, but set to work. Eventually, that too was in a pile on the bed. His shoes, socks and pants came off quickly. Evelyn felt her breath catch as she looked down on her best friend in only his knickers. His feet were large and his legs were hairy with light muscle definition. There was a very satisfying bulge filling out his underpants and Evelyn spent a time just looking at that area of him before she realized what she was doing.

"Wingardium Leviosa" She said, hoping the mirror hadn't seen her checking out Severus while he was unable to hide. His body lifted off of the bed and she was able to direct his limp self into the tub of lukewarm water. His white undergarments plastered themselves to his body and she was able to see the rest of his muscles and the light sprinkle of dark hair that was on his body. The second his hair touched the water she noticed lather and suds. There was enough shampoo in his hair to wash it with out using any out of a bottle. She soaked and scrubbed him as well as slapped him saying,

"Come on Sev! Snap outta this!" after a few fruitless minutes she tried another form of attack.

"Slytherins suck!" she said. There was a spluttering sound and his eyelids flung open, then snapped shut.

"Ow." He said weakly.

"You're alive!" she said happily, he winced.

"Not so loud. Evie my head…" it seamed to zap his energy just raising his hand to his temple.

"Okay." She said softly. "Can you get out?" she asked. He couldn't even try. Evelyn wrapped her arms under his armpits and he weakly wrapped his around her neck and together they managed to get him out of the tub and sitting on the floor of his small bath. She dried him off thoroughly her hands brushing over his entire body with a grey terry cloth towel. She then transfigured it into a thick night shirt that bundled him up nicely. Moving him to the bed she made him lie down and wrap up. Evelyn then went into the other room and grabbed a fistful of the glittering floo powder. She tossed it in the flames and called out,

"Madam Pomfrey! Madam Pomfrey!" The medi-witch's response was prompt.

"Really, Evelyn, you're on the staff, my name is Poppy. And there's no need to shout."

"It's Severus," Evelyn said, "He's dreadfully sick." Madam Pomfrey's tone changed immediately.

"Think he can travel?" She asked.

"Not by himself, and I wouldn't subject him to the children."

"Then floo him, I'll go fix a bed. See you in a few." The healer said before she bustled off. Evelyn walked into the bedroom and looked at the weak form of her friend.

"Severus, we gotta get you to Madam Pompfrey." She said. He made a sound that she could pass off as a sound of consent. She wrapped her arms around him again and helped him off the bed, him putting most of his weight on her. She supported him all the way to the fire. There she got in and drew him tightly to her. Her voice was slightly muffled by his shoulder where her nose was firmly pressed but she spoke as clearly as she could.

"Hogwarts Hospital wing." She said. They both began to spin Evelyn trying with all her might to keep him up right and close as possible to her. The floo system wasn't exactly designed for two people. Eventually, they both stumbled out of the fireplace Severus almost collapsing. He looked very green. Madam Pomfrey was upon them immediately with her help, Evelyn was able to get him into a bed. Poppy rushed off again to get some medical stuff when Evelyn noticed that Severus was still looking very, very green. She conjured a bucket just in time because he soon vomited. She held back his hair and stroked his back as he made utterly disgusting sounds and produced equally disgusting things.

"Poor thing." Evelyn said softly as she stroked his back. Madam Pomfrey soon returned and took the reins from Evelyn. As the healer examined her patient Evelyn thought about their classes. What would it hurt if she just ran down and looked in on his students? She told Poppy she'd be back later and rushed off, grabbing a house elf as she went.

"Would you do me a favor and go and tell my first period class to sit tight for the moment and I'll be with them in a few?" she asked the elf. He (she never did catch his name) said that he would and scampered off.

Evelyn burst into Severus' first period class and smiled at the seventh year Gryffindors and Slytherins that were all sitting and waiting for their professor.

"Good morning class. Professor Snape is a bit under the weather this morning so I'll be taking over for today. And today I don't really fancy making potions, probably because I have no idea what this lesson is actually on. So why don't we make something else instead. Popcorn perhaps?" She said, with a wave of her wand she transfigured some rather nasty looking ingredients into small piles of corn. The class looked at her in surprise.

"Potions wasn't my strong suit, Transfiguration, however, was. Now if you'll excuse me." Evelyn said.

She never realized how out of shape she was until she sprinted up stairs from the dungeons to her class room. She was well winded when she entered the room.

"If you all would pack up your stuff and head for the dungeons, we will be working from there for a little while." She said, the class did as they were told, but not with out regarding her with funny looks and mummers. She left a note on the door of her classroom and then joined the students in their descent.

The morning went on, Evelyn's classes met in a different dungeon and she would flit between the two rooms. At lunch she popped into the great hall and grabbed a sandwich and proceeded on to the hospital wing. When she got there, Madam Pomfrey had Severus set up behind a privacy screen. His diagnosis was,

"I always told him to take better care of himself, but he would never listen. It's the flu, topped off by poor diet and poor sleep. He'll be in here a while." Pompfrey told her as she drew up a chair.

"I had to put him to sleep. The fool still wanted to teach classes." No doubt, hands down' Severus Roberto Snape could be an idiot.

"He needn't worry." Evelyn said.

"I told him that." The medi – witch replied. Evelyn sat her lunch period by his sleeping side. After she finished eating, she opened his notebook and studied. He kept a careful log of his classes and what they were studying, and their homework. He also logged a series of faces in various states of anger. The afternoon rolled around, and Evelyn continued on with the day in the same fashion as the morning. Severus had no free periods, thus, she was on her feet for a good part of the day.

Dumbledore made her stay through dinner. He kept his eye on her, like a father watched his daughter, to ensure she didn't hide anything in her napkin. After supper Evelyn made a quick run through of her office as well as his then she went directly to the hospital wing. If Madam Pomfrey was surprised to see her there, she said nothing. Just that he'd already eaten and needed sleep. Evelyn nodded and promised to be the best little teacher in the whole wing. She sat for while watching the rise and fall of his chest and how peaceful he looked. Chalk one up for potion power. He looked venerable, yet strong, and utterly … handsome? She shook her head and quickly focused on correcting homework.

She worked through the night, correcting papers, working on duel lesson plans and boning up on potions. She had only been moderately good at the subject. On top of that she would tend her friend's needs through out the night. He only woke a few times. She would help him to the bathroom or stroke his hand or massage his head. She didn't sleep.

Evelyn worked both classes through out the day, this time her potions students actually did something. She spent her lunch with Severus, who was still heavily sedated. The afternoon rolled around. Her last class was sixth years, Gryffindor and Slytherin.

Boom! There was an explosion from the back of the class. Evelyn rushed to put out the fire. Poor Neville Longbottom was now missing part of his eyebrow. He looked mortified, especially when the Slytherins burst into taunting laughter. Evelyn smiled at the young man who was positively red.

"Don't worry Mr. Longbottom, we have plenty more cauldrons." She said, fixing his shattered pot. "You should've seen some of the explosions I caused when I was your age." She patted his shoulder and returned to the front of the room. Neville restarted his potion with help from Hermione, she took good care of him, noted Evelyn, who gave a look over her shoulder before hurrying out to check on her other class. When she returned Malfoy and Potter where rolling around on the floor in a wrestling match.

"Hey! Hey! Five points for fighting, both of you!" She said in her best assertive voice as she pulled the boys apart. "Now what is going on here?"

"That mud- blood was giving small – brain help." Draco spat, Harry lunged for him again but was restrained by Evelyn's arm.

"Mud - blood? Small - brain?" Evelyn muttered to herself.

"Don't you insult Hermione like that Malfoy!" Harry bit back at him. The Weasley boy agreed fervently, he was talking soothingly to Hermione and holding her hand.

"I see." Evelyn said. "Miss Granger, you were helping Longbottom?" she asked, Hermione gave her a look that wasn't quite readable.

"Yes, Professor." She replied.

"Good for you. Give him all the help he needs if he wants it." Evelyn said, Hermione's face got considerably brighter. The Slytherins spluttered things about Professor Snape.

"Do I look like Professor Snape? No? Didn't think so. I'm in charge here, and I don't care about who helps who if it means that the potion gets done and the students learn. Now sit down all of you. I don't want any of this any more. Get back to work." She said releasing the two boys who had opened the whole can of flubber - worms. Malfoy returned to his seat muttering things about his father. Evelyn just had to laugh.

After class Malfoy swaggered up to Snape's desk where she was leaning and said in a very upstart - ish sort of voice,
"You should know better than to laugh at me, my father is a very powerful man. He has quite a lot of power where this school is concerned." Evelyn laughed again.

"Your father knows better than to pull rank on me." She said flashing a smile. Lucius Malfoy… those were some days…

"What exactly do you mean by that?" Draco asked stormily.

"Malfoy, your father is a stupid, ridiculous, big headed bastard, whom I've been friends with for over twenty years."

"You're kidding me." Malfoy said, he was flabbergasted.

"Do I look like I'm kidding you?" she asked trying to look serious.

"You're not a Slytherin!" He said, "I would know."

"You're very right; I was not nor will ever be a Slytherin, I am a Hufflepuff to the bone, and then some. That, however, doesn't stop me from being friends with one." Evelyn replied. Malfoy then began to splutter disjointed ideas and statements about Slytherins couldn't possibly be friends with Hufflepuffs, stuff about his father, and other egotistical things like that. Little shit. Lucius you're son is fucked up, man.

"Right now, I'm sitting here looking at you Malfoy, trying to see things from your point of view... but I can't get my head that far up my ass. Now don't you have some place to be?" Evelyn asked, raising her brow and waving him out the door.

That night after Dumbledore made her sit through dinner again. Afterwards, Evelyn returned to her post beside Severus' bed. This time he wasn't asleep, quite the opposite, he was fervently fighting taking his medicine. He sat arms folded across his bare chest and his nose in the air. Evelyn was perched on the side of the bed, holding the vile of potion he needed to take.

"Di don't won'd to dake dat." He said he some how managed to have it all; cough, sinus troubles, flu, and a fever. Evelyn took a deep breath and tried again.

"I don't care. You still need to take it. If you want to get better you need to do as you're told. You're as obstinate as a child sometimes." She said. They sat and stared at each other for a while like the first one to blink had just admitted something about their character. It was a good thing that Severus' eyes were holding Evelyn's she had been discreetly checking out his bare chest when he wasn't looking. He blinked.

"Ha! Now take your medicine." She pronounced. Begrudgingly, he extended his hand to take the vile. He drained the bottle in one great gulp. He pulled an over dramatic face and grabbed his shirt feeling safe that he wouldn't get any mentholated cream on the blouse. He settled back against the pillows and soon the potion worked its magic and he drifted off. Evelyn sat down in her chair next to him and finished checking her papers. She then decided to write a little not to Lucius. It couldn't hurt and it wasn't like she was going to leave Severus' side, he might need her.

Dear Lucius,

Long time no contact. I hope you and Cissa are doing well. I myself have never been better, old yes, and returning to Hogwarts hasn't helped me forget that, but I'm just peachy. Your son is an interesting boy, well young man, he's sixteen now isn't he. Good Lord time flys. You'll probably receive a note from him very shortly and I'd almost put money on it containing my name at least once. Just thought I'd let you know. I'm positively boring and would love to hear from you and Cissa. Give my love to all.

Au revoir,

Evie 'The Blair Witch'

Seventy – two hours…seventy – two and counting. Evelyn had been working or with Severus for three straight days. She only took a break to shower and eat. Severus was getting better his aches were gone it was now just his nose and fever which would reaper just when he started looking good, keeping him in bed each time. He was getting quite unhappy about the whole situation.

Dear Evie,

I was surprised nicely by receiving your letter; it has been a long time hasn't it. Cissa and I are well and glad to hear that you are also. I whole heartedly agree that time has flown like a broomstick, I too am feeling ancient. I'm even doing old wizard things, like use clichés. Yes, Draco is sixteen, very grown up. Damn. I still see the little boy that I brought home from St. Mungo's. Cissa has especially been sad to see him grow. We too are quite boring. Cissa and I recently celebrated our twentieth anniversary. I never heard if you married. Amazing that you haven't if that is the case. Yes, I did receive a letter from my son that contained your name. He seemed very surprised that we were once friends. Don't worry, although you attempted, I promise that the record is now straightened. Cissa sends her love and would love to see you sometime soon. She'll drop you a line sooner or later.

Yours in Slytherin,

Lucius

Severus had grown quite accustom to waking to find Evelyn sitting in a chair by him. She would either be eating or pouring over a vast amount of pages her brow furrowed in thought. After this nap however she was not there. Instead there were two students. Tessa and Neville were standing by a bed to his right; the screen had been moved to include another bed. The pair was talking in low voices. Evelyn was no where to be seen, it was lunch, she was usually there. Tessa turned and he could see the person that was in the sterile cot. It was Evelyn she was very worn looking there were large dark circles under her eyes and her cheeks had lost their glow, she was almost as white as her sheets.

"What happened?" he asked. She wasn't hurt was she? Tessa and Neville jumped slightly, they clearly thought that he was asleep.

"Oh. Hello Professor." Tessa said. Neville pretended to be making straight her already immaculate bedclothes.

"Blair, why is she here?" His voice was no longer in his nose, probably because the massive amounts of potions he was on.

"She kinda collapsed during potions." Tessa said twisting a flaxen strand of hair around her finger.

"She WHAT!" He exclaimed shooting up in his bed.

"Professor!" Tessa cried, physically pushing him back into a reclined position looking worried. "Really sir, don't do that. Neville and I had popped down there to turn in an advanced assignment and we had just gotten in there and she crumpled. There was like a fight, a bunch or second years claiming it was someone's fault. Any way Neville and I got her up here. Madam Pompfrey says its sleep deprivation; she was mumbling something about ninety – two hours straight." Tessa said. Severus' mind was buzzing. Ninety – two hours straight awake? Down there…What was she doing in potions? Neville had wandered over and took Tessa's hand; she gave him a smile with light in her eyes. He wasn't going to think about the fact that Evelyn was remotely right about someone like Tessa and someone like Neville.

"How are you professor?" Tessa asked sweetly.

"I feel horrible." He said truthfully.

"Well you look it." She said without thinking. Both she and Neville gasped and both their hands shot to cover her mouth. Through the fingers she apologized. Severus just laughed.

"Ten points…" another matching pair of gasps. "For Hufflepuff, and for Gryffindor. Thank you for taking care of her." The pair dropped their hands as well as their jaws. "And Tessa, your frankness has made this day a little brighter." It was possible their mouths could get bigger. "Now get out of here, go be free, leave me be." He said waving a hand at them.

Evelyn spent a good two days heavily sedated. Poppy was taking no chances with her new biggest idiot. What was she thinking taking two classes as well as playing nursemaid? It was her third day in the infirmary and his last. He sat reading through back homework when he noticed that she was moving her bed over closer to his.

"Shouldn't you be resting Missy?" he asked sounding very parental. He didn't like looking over and seeing her haggard body. She hopped back into bed and smiled at him.

"I'm lying down and everything, daddy, I'll be okay." She said. He smiled back at her.

"You make sure you stay that way." They fell into silence until someone reached over and grabbed one of his blankets.

"Hey!" he cried.

"I'm cold." She retaliated.

"Well what about me?" he said. They argued a bit just for fun, and finally decided to push the beds together and pool the blankets.

"You're on my side." He said a while later.

"I am not."

"You are too." He set aside his correcting quill and roll of parchment.

"Nha-huh."

"Yha – huh." That went on for a while, both regressing twenty years. Finally Severus attacked. He always got his way.

"I'm ticklish! Stop that." She said in the midst of insane giggles. She soon wreaked her revenge upon him. The pair wrestled around eventually ending up in a heap on the floor. Severus was on his butt and Evelyn had landed in his lap. They two laughed for a while but eventually their giddiness died down.

For how long they sat they weren't sure, but for a while they just sat there noses almost touching looking at each other. Both could feel the world slowly stop spinning. Their mouths got closer and closer, their noses had miraculously gotten out of the way. Evelyn could feel the warmth of those firm, thin lips; she could literally taste his aura. And it tasted good, this position felt right.

"Severus! Evelyn!" Poppy's voice cried out. She was quite mad at them. Their beds were instantly separated like before and soon Evelyn was being helped off of the floor, next came Severus.

Poppy had given them a firm lecture before sending them to bed like they were children. The rest of that night Severus spent thinking, and not about how he was being treated like a baby.

I kissed my best friend that did not just happen. You're right it didn't, but you wanted it to. She feels right in your arms. She's cute, she's funny. She's perfect. You got the hotts for her, admit it. Severus' mind was telling him maybe he did that would explain a lot. But they were just friends. But the floor… That was a mistake, wasn't it?

I was getting all kissy with my best friend! I can't believe it; I can't believe…how much I wanted to kiss him? This is too weird. No it's chemistry, its relationships. It's a lot of lovey dovey things. Its moot point. We're just friends. Right?

A/N: Did I not tell you that this was extremely out of character?