Heartbroken Christmas

Author: Leta McGotor

Lisa: But when you hunt me I have no time to write and you have no time to read – bad solution. But a bit of sport could do me good, that would be fantastic. Thank you for your review.

Underground: Thank you for reviewing.

Lady Henrietta: When I imagine how cold it must be there in reality, I can freeze to death only by thinking. I hate it when it's cold especially when it is a long time. Thank you for your review.

Jade1982: Yes, he has indeed to hurry and bring her back and with the cold around him it's not really easy. Thank you for reviewing and for you thoughts.

LinZE: Yes, we can be lucky that we probably will not have such a problem and I'm extremely thankful that there are enough people to help if it should happen, nevertheless. Thank you for your review.

Chapter 6 Returning

Finally the door cracked open and Severus hurried inside to the figure sitting on the floor next to the window. He kneeled down beside her and pushed the long black strands of hair out of the face of the woman. Severus gasped. He had known since the first time he had seen her in this compartment, that this person was indeed Minerva, but to see her now was a little shock to him. Minerva leaned heavily against the wall, her hair hung loosely around her, her eyes were shut, her glasses hung slightly askew from her nose. She was unnaturally pale, her skin had a really waxy colour, if you could speak of a colour at all. Her lips showed a shade of blue instead of red and they were slightly opened. In one hand Minerva had her wand, although she had noticed several hours ago that it was useless. Her other hand was covered with a pile of her own clothes, as the rest of her body.

"Minerva?" Severus whispered carefully in her ear, as if he was frightened that she would broke into two pieces. He felt a huge wave of despair washing over him when she showed no reaction. He felt for a pulse and sighed reliefed when he could indeed feel one, a weak one but still a pulse. Her skin was cold when he touched her and it felt lifeless. Severus swallowed. He knew he had to hurry but now he asked himself whether she would survive the whole way back out of the valley. He shook his head. There was no other way out of here and so he had to try.

Severus took Minerva in his arms. A silent moan escaped her lips but this was the only reaction he got. Carefully and as quickly as he dared he made his way back to the end of the train and out. The broom was waiting for him, although nearly invisible because of the snow, that covered it all over. Severus took the broom and started making his way back. To his luck the snow storm had ceased a bit and he could follow his own trace back.

It was a long way out of the valley. From time to time Severus tried to use the broom but every time his hopes went a bit higher the broom refused to fly and sank back into the snow. Often Severus talked to Minerva, knowing that she could not and would not answer him.

Not one hour later Severus got another problem, because now it was afternoon and – like his watch told him – time that it became dark outside. Severus felt as if he had to cry. Why did all the forces of the nature try to stop rescuing his beloved Minerva? Why did they want to see her dead?

"Hold out, Minerva. I know you'll manage it, you always managed everything. You can do it."

Severus struggled on his way up and out of the valley. Every few minutes he stopped and wiped the snow out of his and Minerva's face or tried his broom and wand. Suddenly he sighed. Instead of moving slightly and then sinking back into the snow, the broom stayed hovering half a metre above the ground. With rising expectation Severus tried his wand as well with "Lumos" and it showed indeed its light. Severus sighed again. Carefully he climbed onto the broom, holding Minerva tightly that she didn't fall into the snow, before he flew off.

It was completely dark outside now, but with his wand, that showed the direction, Severus could find ther right way easily. He had also performed a charm which let them become warm. Severus was relieved when he could feel Minerva's breath against his throat, because now he knew that there was still this chance of getting her to Hogwarts in time.

On and on they flew through the darkness. Under them the woods and the whole countryside vanished in it and only from time to time there was a small illuminated house or village. Severus had lost every track of time. It could be late afternoon or evening but he could imagine as well that every now and then there must be dawn visible.

Suddenly a shiver ran down his spine and he looked down at Minerva. Her head leaned against his shoulders, but while the look on her face seemed nearly relaxed some time ago, their was now a painful expression. Her hands had turned into fists and her breath was all but slow and calm. Carefully Severus landed. Something had to be wrong, but he couldn't imagaine what it was.

"Minerva? Minerva, can you hear me?" Severus din't really expect a reaction, but at his words Minerva opened slowly her eyes. They were clouded and she looked unconcerned into nothingness, her head leaned still weakly against his shoulder. Severus hold his breath. He didn't know what to do now and so he simply waited. After some moments Minerva began speaking in a weak voice, that sounded not at all like hers.

"Make it stop… please… I… I can't… stop it" Then she paused and closed her eyes again, whispering Severus' name before loosing her partly achieved consciousness again.

"It's all right, Minerva. Don't worry." Suddenly his watch gave alarm. Severus looked at it and was startled when it told him, that he should use the little boddle in his right pocket. Which bottle in my right pocket? Severus thought confused, but when he looked at the small flagon he had found in his pocket, he remembered the potion he had brewed several hours ago. This potion could give someone beautiful dreams and peace, in fact it showed a sleeping person the heaven on earth. Everything the person ever wanted will be given to him or her in this dream and he will forget all the bad things he had experienced. This potion was often used in hospital for badly injured people and Severus used it sometimes when his sleep was troubled.

Now he gave it to Minerva, hoping that it would help her to survive the last bit of their way. Carefully Severus made his way through the snow, on and on, praying that it wasn't that long to Hogwarts anymore. Minerva slept peacefully in his arms.

Nearly one and a half hour later Severus landed on the Hogwarts grounds. Not caring for his broom anymore he hurried up the front steps with Minerva in his arms. He didn't stop to look around or to explain the situation to an utterly bewildered looking Sibyll Trelawney (who did not know about what happened) until he reached the hospital wing. When he entered Poppy Pomfrey was waiting for him. Professor Dumbledore had informed her about the whole situation and so she was prepared for Minerva and Severus.

"Put her on that bet there and then sit down in this chair, please."

"You can help her, right?"

"I hope so." Madame Pomfrey sighed when she started examining Minerva.

"You hope or you can?"

"Severus, simply shut up and sit down! I can't help her with you standing in my way and asking questions I can't answer yet. Sit down!"

Completely weakened by the long way Severus sank down on the chair without saying another word. He looked to the floor. He knew he could do nothing to help her now and suddenly he felt weak and helpless. He felt in his pockets – only trying to concentrade on something else – when he found something beside the flagon in his right pocket. Looking at it Severus recognised the photo Madame Hooch had taken the evening before. Clutching it tightly Severus stared out of the window, not able to look at Minerva or the bussy Madame Pomfrey.

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