"Sir?" She asked quietly.
"...where?" Was her croaked reply. "I...where"
"You are in the Djana family mansion, sir"
"Wh...why"
"A man, sir, dressed in all black with a mask...a hideous presence..." She stopped, shivering slightly. "You were cursed"
The voice fell silent, and after a few moments, she faded back into unconsciousness.
When she again woke, quiet light was streaming through the stained window. Night had been kind in its chill, and though she was shivering, when she felt of the man's chest, he was quite a normal temperature. She sat up slowly and gazed at the man.
He did not stir, his eyes were still behind the white lids, and his breathing was slow and peaceful.
For the first time she got a good look at him, and in the light, too.
His skin was pale, not from just the sickness, but it seemed as a norm to the man. He was skinny, but not atrophied, and muscle was evident under the thin skin. The lines of his body and face were smooth. His neck was long and floated gracefully to his pointed chin. His pale, chapped lips were thin and the top lip curled upward at two points. His nose was beakish but thin, with well-placed nostrils. His sunken eyes were graced with long black lashes, but the beauty was betrayed by a heavy, dark brow and small forehead.
Who was this man? Who attacked him?
The mystery set not well with her, combined with the fact that she had recently had to move into this dismal mansion. So far she had found-what? -three doors unlocked, as well as the kitchen. And the kitchen was filled with remnants of violence, whether animal or man she could not be sure, with the menacing bloodstains and faint smell of death.
Could it have been a Death Eater that attacked him? They were supposed to be all gone, right? Voldemort had been defeated by one Harry Potter, who had died as well as his foe. It had been years since there was any substantial violence in the magical world.
Her eyes chanced to wander to his left forearm. Upon it was a large, silvery scar of no apparent shape.
But still...perhaps this man himself had been a Death Eater.
She involuntarily recoiled, standing up from the bed and staring at the sleeping man. The ice around him had melted, and the bed was completely soaked. The smell of the man's musky sweat and the dampening of ancient bird feathers created an old, unpleasant smell.
She felt of his forehead. The fever had broken, at least for now. The man stirred and she removed her hand promptly, as his black eyes sprang to life.
He looked immediately at her.
"Where am I?" His voice was gravely from sickness, and it was evident by the ensuing grimace that his throat was raw from the sickness.
"Djana Manor, sir"
He narrowed his eyes at her, not unkindly, but in thought.
"Yes. And who are you"
"I think it would likewise be right to ask your name, Sir"
He looked put out by the demand, but he obliged.
"My name is Severus Snape"
The name...it rung a bell. Old family acquaintance, perhaps?
"Now your name, please"
"Antigone Djana"
"So, then, this is your Manor"
"Yes, sir"
" It thank you for your kindness." He mumbled, moving to sit up.
"What are you doing?" She asked, moving forward and placing a hand on his shoulder. He drew back from her touch.
"I will no longer trouble you"
"You are not well enough to leave, yet"
"Yes I am." He answered simply, and pushed her roughly out of the way. He placed his bare feet on the ground and stood. For a moment he seemed all right, but as he tried to step forward, his toe dragged and he swayed, falling forward. She caught him against her shoulder, and his hand grasped her back for support. He gasped. She helped him back toward the bed.
"You see"
He averted his gaze to the window. The sun had risen further, and the light hit hard and sharp against the browned glass.
"A curse?" He asked, still looking out the window.
"Morbidius Feverit"
He looked briefly at her, and his eyes darkened. He looked back toward the window.
"I'll get you something to eat. What would you like"
"Nothing, thank you"
"I'll bring you tea"
"No!" He looked back at her. "Please. Ice water"
She smiled softly, nodding her head. "I'll be right back, Mister Snape."