Chapter 6: Severus Snape: Saint or Scoundrel

The next day, Rose was back to her talkative, cheerful self, though it seemed a little forced at times. She had told Severus that he was still not to apparate. She then informed him that she was going to drive them to St. Mungo's.

"Do you know how to drive?" Severus exclaimed. "Can't we just go by broomstick?"

"Of course, I can drive," Rose retorted, "No Mag-born, remember. At quite frankly, Severus, I would be terrified that you would fall off the broom." Severus scowled at her. "You're doing great," she added, "but you still get so dizzy somethings."

William stayed with Severus while Rose got the car. She had also gotten permission to go into Hogwarts and fetch some of Severus's own clothes. In the meantime, however, she had given him a pair of black trousers and a long-sleeved black t-shirt; this wardrobe choice was the best she could come up with based on the tattered remains of bloody clothing she had pulled off his body that first day. They would be driving in Muggle London, so they had to blend in.

Rose had traded in her purple healer's robe about a week and a half ago. She had been running around the Shrieking Shack in jeans and t-shirts. On one particularly hot day, she sported a pair of shorts that rested high on her thighs and a thin tank top. William was hardly able to speak around Rose. Severus could practically see what kinds of thoughts were running though that boy's mind without using legilimency.

"Do you have any shame," Severus said under his breath to Rose as they had both caught William practically drooling over her.

Rose had just smirked.

Soon enough, Rose turned up with the car. Severus sat beside her in the front seat and William piled into the back. Rose had upbeat music playing on the radio, causing much complaining from Severus. She pointed her wand at the music system so that they could get wizarding stations too. She only turned it off when they heard and advertisement announcing Rita Skeeter's latest book: 'Severus Snape: Saint or Scoundrel.'

"And that's enough of that," Rose said as she hurriedly switched off the radio.

Another reason, they had traveled by car, Severus realized, and not by another magical means like Floo Powder, was because of the press. Reports were crowding into the magical hospital, hoping to get a quote from such a controversial figure as Severus Snape. Not to mention that it was rumored that Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, would be visiting his former Hogwarts professor that very day.

Severus, Rose, and William were easily able to sneak past the crowds by using the entrance for muggle St. Mungo's visitors.

Rose got Severus settled in his room. She brought him a late breakfast and made herself organized in their new space. Harry Potter had written and asked if he could stop by at noon. He apparently had important matters to discuss with Severus. Rose had written back that Severus would be happy to see him, which was translation from Severus's 'If he must.'

Rose began to unpack Severus's clothing. She found that Severus only had three outfits and they were all exactly the same. "There is no way you can button this around your neck," Rose said, turning towards him.

Severus was chewing his breakfast while frowning down at the daily prophet he was reading. He looked up over the paper at her. "You disapprove of my wardrobe?" Severus questioned drily.

"There are so many buttons," Rose said. "I have to fight you to wear that t-shirt and now it all makes sense."

Rose was back in her healing robes and so it seemed only fitting that Severus should get to wear his robes as well, especially if he was going to be visited by Potter.

"Could I persuade you to just wear the t-shirt and trousers when Harry gets here?" She asked.

Severus did not answer but just threw Rose an exasperated look.

Rose walked over to the chair Severus was resting in and knelt to his eye level. "Fine," she said to him, "but you can only do up the buttons to about there," she pressed her pointer finger just below Severus's collarbone. "I know its been a few weeks, but your neck is still healing, and I don't want that type of pressure on it yet."

Severus just signed in response, knowing that when it came to his care, he would lose every argument.

"Are you finished?" Rose asked, indicating his breakfast plate.

"Yes," Severus said. He followed her with his eyes as she took the tray away. "Rose," he said under his breath, casting his gaze downward.

He didn't need to further explain. Rose planted her feet in front of him and Severus placed his hands on her shoulders. Rose helped ease Severus into a standing position.

He blinked several times to keep himself from feeling lightheaded.

Rose held her hands around his waist to keep him steady. Severus had become so accustomed to her touch, he was being to feel exposed when she was away from him.

Rose led Severus to the bathroom.

Severus felt hot around his neck in a way that had nothing to do with the snake bites.

Rose had been his caregiver for 3 weeks and in that time, she had pretty much done everything for Severus. He despised every minute of it.

The first two days after he had woken up, Severus had not regained function of the lower half of his body. It took Rose over an hour to convince him to let her clean him up. Between then and now, there were a handful of times that Severus had not made it to the loo on time or had an accident in his sleep. Finally, after 3 weeks, he had seemed to regain control over his bladder and bowels, but he still needed Rose to walk him to and from the bathroom.

Severus avoided Rose's eyes as she helped him pull down his trousers and pants and lower himself onto the toilet.

"Hey," Rose said to him gently, "I though you knew by now that you don't have to be embarrassed around me."

Severus's eyes flicked up to her briefly. She was always so kind to him. Despite the occasional good-natured teasing about his general gloomy personality. Rose tried her best to make this whole process easier for Severus.

"I will just be outside the door," Rose told him, "call out when you need me again."

Severus gave her a curt nod and she gave him his privacy.

Ten minutes later, she knocked on the door. "Severus?" she said gently through the crack in the door. She knew he would never call for her. She had to become very good at recognizing his needs without him saying anything.

His silence was her prompt to enter. She helped him stand and cleaned up for him, his neck was still too stiff to allow much mobility. She washed her hands and then pointed her wand at the bath and it filled with warm water. She helped Severus completely undress and step into the tub. She sprinkled soothing herbs in the bath water, so that the steam rose in light pink clouds.

Severus still was looking everywhere but at her.

"I know you hate this," Rose said softly to him.

He grimaced into the water. "I know you say it doesn't bother you…" he trailed off.

"It doesn't bother me," Rose assured him kindly. "Plus, it's just you and me here. If you need to be a little vulnerable, I promise that will just stay between us. You don't have to be such a tough guy all the time."

Severus rolled his eyes.

Rose stuck her hand in the bathwater and splashed his chest.

He finally met her eyes. He looked so exhausted, like he had been holding onto something heavy for a very long time.

"Severus soon enough you will be completely well and you can go back to being your snarky self."

A small smirk touched Severus's lips. "You have a very polite way of describing my personality," he told her, deep down she though she could hear some amusement in his voice.

"Why what do other people say about you?" Rose asked.

Severus though for a moment. "That I'm cold, cruel, and unfeeling."

Rose raised her brows at him. "Do you believe you're those things?" she mused.

"Yes," Severus said simply.

Rose laughed slightly and shook her head. "Lean forward, let me wash your back."

Severus obeyed. He closed his eyes at her soft touch. Never, before Rose, had anyone touched him so gently. He was sure his mother never hadn't.

"How about we replace that negative self-talk with better descriptive words," she told him.

"Negative self-talk?" Severus commented sardonically.

"Read about it in a book once," Rose shrugged. She continued to rug a washcloth over his back. "What can we say about Severus Snape?" she asked herself, "besides him being kind of an ass sometimes."

The hint of a smile appeared behind his eyes.

"How about loyal?" Rose suggested.

Severus let out an errant noise.

Rose ignored him. "Loyal, smart, and incredibly brave," Rose listed as she moved to wash his chest.

Severus's face became very smug and Rose liked that she made him feel more confident.

A little while later, Rose was helping Severus out of the tub. She assisted him to dry and dress. "There are so many buttons," she complained as she knelt in front of him, doing up his tunic.

"Do up a few more at the neck," he told Rose.

Rose added one more button, "That's all you get," she responded.

Simultaneously, Rose and Severus glanced over at the clock. It was 5 minutes to noon. "They are probably here by now," Rose said. "Where would you like to sit and visit with them?"

"Here will be fine," Severus murmured, his voice taking on a bitterness again. He was sitting in a chair near the wind.

Rose took his hand briefly and squeezed it encouragingly. "I'm sure they are just wandering around somewhere. Let me go find them." She straightened up. "Be right back."

Rose walked into the hall. Rose saw flaming red hair first, a tall young man holding hands with a girl with bushy brown hair. Then Rose saw Harry Potter, black-haired and bespectacled. She had of course seen pictures of all three of the teenagers in the Daily Prophet. She knew they were young, but now as she looked at them, she could hardly believe that it was these three children that finally put an end to Lord Voldemort.

Rose forced a smile onto her face. "Just the three I was looking for," Rose called out to them, "Harry, Ron, Hermione."

A couple of the other hospital staff looked up from what they were doing.

The three looked towards Rose.

She stepped towards them and shook their hands. "I'm Rose Rosamond," Rose introduced. "I'm the healer in charge of caring for your professor."

"It's good to met you," Hermione said for the boys.

"Yes," Harry Potter confirmed. "And thank you for the updates."

Amusement formed on Ron's face. "How was it living in the Shrieking Shack with Snape?" he asked ironically.

"Ronald!" Hermione reprimanded.

Rose laughed lightly. "It was a total adventure," she said. "Want to go see him now?"

The three looked at each other nervously for a moment.

"Please," Hermione said.

Rose began to walk and indicated that they should follow her.

"How is he today?" Harry asked hesitantly.

"He is doing very well," Rose replied. "He is in good spirits today." She paused and smirked. "Well, good for him, anyway."

The door to Severus's room was open, however there was a curtain drawn blocking most of the room from view.

A hard thud came audibly from inside.

Rose quickly drew the curtain back.

Severus was on the ground beside the chair she had placed him in. Rose hurried towards him and dropped to her knees. "Severus," she said, clasping his face in her hands. "Are you alright."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were shocked to see someone just touch Snape and not be cursed across the room.

Severus quickly lifted his eyes towards the trio and then back at Rose. "Yes," he said roughly, "I'm fine."

Rose guessed that Severus must not have wanted to greet his guest sitting down. He still got so dizzy trying to stand.

Rose used magic to help bring Severus into a standing position. Once again, he looked ready to topple over. She could tell his world was spinning. Rose held him at the waist with one hand and with the other gently smoothed back his long black hair.

Harry shifted slightly, feeling uncomfortable, Ron looked somewhat appalled, and Hermione seemed curious.

Bravely, Harry moved forward and took Snape's elbow to help support him.

"Leave it alone, Potter," Severus hissed, "I am perfectly capable."

Harry removed his hands at once.

Rose cast Harry a quick glance and smiled. "Come sit," Rose said to Severus, helping lower him into his seat. Severus scowled down at his shoes.

Rose ran her eyes over Severus, looking for any physical harm. "What did I say about the buttons," Rose whispered to him. Severus had fastened his tunic all the way up to his chin. She signed and then wordlessly undid the first five buttons.

Severus glared at her as she gently ran her fingers over the skin on his neck.

"Don't be a prat," she grinned at him.

Something in Severus's face softened.

Again, the trio was amazed that this woman was getting away with so much.

Rose turned back to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "How rude of me," she said as she raised her wand. Three chairs appeared out of thin air. The chairs were facing Severus.

Rose made to leave but Severus snatched her by the wrist.

Rose looked down at him in surprise.

"Produce a chair for yourself," he said in a demanding voice, that didn't quite disguise the plea.

"Of course," she assured him. She raised her wand again and a fifth chair appeared. She took a seat slightly behind Severus.

His eyes darted back at her before he focused on the three in front of him.

"Potter, Weasley, Granger," Severus greeted coldly. "What do I owe the pleasure?" His voice was a menacing hiss.

Rose could barely contain her grin at Severus's fierce tone. No wonder people thought he was cold. She knew better though.

"Professor," Hermione spoke first, "we are so glad to see that you are doing so well."

Severus scowled but gave her a curt nod. Then, as if suddenly realizing that he was exhausted, he said wearily, "Why are you three here?"

Harry then launches into an explanation about legal matters. He told Severus that his name has unofficially been cleared of all charges and that when he is well enough, he must appear in front of the Wizengamot to receive his full pardon. "Many members of the Order will be present to speak on your behalf." Harry Potter cleared his throat awkwardly before reaching into his pocket. "Here, Professor," Harry said, handing Severus a vial of shimmering memories. Severus took the vial back carefully.

Rose's eyes widened slightly as she saw anger distort Severus's face.

Rose pulled her chair closer to Severus, the legs screeching against the floor. "That was very kind of you, Harry, to return those," Rose said firmly, her gaze directed on Severus.

"I have something else for you as well," Harry said quick to change the subject. This time he pulled a letter from his jacket pocket. Harry extended it to Severus.

Severus eyed the letter with mistrust.

Rose took the envelope on Severus's behalf and placed it in his lap.

Severus looked furiously over at her.

Rose just shrugged.

"It's from Professor McGonagall," Harry explained. "Hogwarts is going to reopen next fall." Harry hesitated for a moment. "Sir, you are still headmaster."

Severus produced a venomous sneer as he looked at Harry. "How thrilled parents must be to send their child to school under the headmaster appointed by the Dark Lord."

Harry signed. "Professor McGonagall has been fulfilling her duties as deputy headmistress. Despite how you ended up in the position, you protected the students to the best of your abilities."

Severus chewed on the inside of his cheeks, making his face look even more gaunt. He thought of the Carrows making students practice the cruciatus curse on first years.

"If you choose to step down from headmaster, McGonagall will be placed in that role," Harry explained. Despite what Harry said, Severus could hear in his voice that he thought this was the better option. Severus never had any ambitions to be headmaster anyway.

"It should be her," Severus said, his voice empty of emotion.

"Are there any other open positions for Severus?" Rose asked.

Severus was about to tell her to mind her own business, but something about the concern in her voice stopped him.

"Potions master," Hermione chimed in. "Professor Slughorn is going back into retiring."

Severus noted that the defense against the dark arts job was not mentioned. Severus knew where a line had to be drawn. He was being offered the role of headmaster because technically it was still his, but no one really expect him to take it, nor would they want him to. And putting a deatheater back into the role of defense against the dark arts teacher seemed like poor hiring, even though it had been a Hogwarts trend.

"Its all in the letter," Harry told Snape. "Professor McGonagall just needs to hear back from you by the end of the month."

Severus nodded once.

"If you do decide to come back, Sir," Hermione said, "I will be returning to Hogwarts in September. Neville is as well, I believe."

Severus arched his brows at Ron and Harry. "I suppose, now you've defeated the Dark Lord, you two have learned everything there is to know about the world at the rip age of 17."

Rose wanted to kick Severus but knew it would be impossible to do so unnoticed.

"Harry and I have been offered jobs as aurors," Ron told Snape defensively. "And Hermione too, if she wants."

Severus leered at Ron, "If I recall, Weasley, your magical abilities have never been of the highest caliber. That is unless you have Granger whispering instructions in your ear. But I guess when you have the 'Chosen One' as your reference anything is possible."

Redness colored Ron's cheeks and Hermione placed and hand on his knee.

Rose was appalled. "Severus," she groaned, shaking her head in embarrassment. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Do you want to rethink that last comment," she said to him as if he was a child.

Severus's eyes flashed at her.

Rose stood and crossed her arms in front of her. "Don't mind him," she told the three, "He's usually asleep at this time of day and he's just cranky because he hasn't had his nap," she said sardonically.

"Wipe those smirks off your faces, Potter, Weasley," Severus barked.

Rose gave the three a weighted look and they stood, knowing that that was their que to leave.

"I'm glad to see you," Harry told Severus quickly before leaving with his friends.

Severus stared for a moment at where Harry was sitting before he turned towards Rose, fuming. "You had no right to undermine me," he told her sharply.

"Undermine you?" Rose replied with frustration.

"Yes," Severus continued, "You with the buttons and how you questioned how I spoke to Potter and his two sidekicks."

"Well," Rose said, "you were being a bully and they were being very good to you."

"You're too nice," Severus shot back. The kindness and smiles she just readily gave out to Harry, Ron, and Hermione angered Severus, like it somehow cheapened her sweet nature towards him.

"Too nice?" she questioned, thinking that that was a very strange comment to make.

"You would like anyone if they smiled at you," Severus told her.

"I like you," Rose retorted, "and you never smile."

Severus narrowed his eyes at her, but he looked as though he was beginning to calm down now that he and Rose were alone. "You still should have kept your mouth shut," he hissed at her.

"Well I am neither your subordinate nor your student, so I…" she trailed off as her eyes fell on the front page of the daily prophet.

Readers,

Please let me know what you think so far. I love to read your reviews.

TJ