Disclaimer: I own nothing, but my thoughts of AU and OC, the rest all belong to J K Rowling. I don't have a beta, so please be merciful. Reviews would encourage this introvert writer to peep out of her literary closet. Chapter beta'd by Moonvale! :)

Chapter 3

'It is rather an odd day. No this sounds better… it is a day of oddity. Since when am I back to fraternizing with poetry? That happened 'once upon a time', Severus Snape grimaced and continued to indulge in his inner monologue, 'even remembering it hurts like hell. I still have a battered copy of John Keats collection somewhere tucked under the piles of collectibles littering my bedside drawer. And hell will freeze over if I ever think of reopening it!' Scowling behind his long hair, he turned slightly and watched his companion.

The older and more seasoned witch across him was quietly weeping to herself. They both were waiting in his office. With every passing hour their patience waned and their worries grew. Minerva had seen, felt, and done too much through the Second Wizarding War and Severus thought it was monumental to offer himself as mute company and a listening wall. For that, the old witch was always grateful.

The transfiguration professor had lost her long-standing colleague and mentor, the former headmaster Albus Dumbledore. The feisty Gryffindor had taken a long time to forgive Severus for it. It would still ache somewhere within him each time he remembered the look of sheer hatred and utter disdain on the older witch's face during their final confrontation at the Great Hall.

He had to make it look like that. He could not help it. He had to carry out the specifics of Dumbledore's plan which was to make Potter grow out of his shell, take things in his own hands and fight like the wizard he was required to be. If it meant being the recipient of "Motherly" Minerva's hatred then he could handle it with a pinch of salt. He was a seasoned actor whose sole purpose was getting redeemed in the eyes of the long-dead Lily. Life couldn't become more ironic than this!

It was Albus' letter that mysteriously appeared on Minerva's desk soon after the war, and the conviction of a few brave students, that had melted the Scottish woman's icy hatred. No sooner had the whole truth been revealed in front of the witch's very eyes that she had hobbled right up to his bedside and had kept vigil just like a true Gryffindor would do.

When he opened his eyes, he was rather shocked to feel his hands clasped tightly into those of two unlikely visitors. Minerva had just uttered a single expression, "OH!" and had broken down like a mother would after watching over her child battling with death and finally coming through victorious. But he was most amazed to find the Granger girl holding onto his other hand. He felt his bile surge up when he saw her fingers wrapped over the hideous Dark Mark.

He had yet to get his voice back but for a man who could speak volumes with his facial expressions, communication was always a piece of cake. Out of habit, he had flicked his eyes over the sleeping young witch and had raised an eyebrow in question when he managed to turn his eyes to a beaming Minerva.

"She had been a constant presence all these weeks, Severus. Miss Granger was the one to get you back inside the castle safely from the Shack. Her presence of mind and Mr. Malfoy's skills had restricted the venom from causing further damage. She was the one to both pray and hope that you will live and recover soon enough. She would read to you while you were unconscious. She even volunteered to clean your wounds and apply fresh bandages. When Poppy's hands were full, she would see to it that your potions could be administered properly. She was the one to come up with an advanced form of blood replenishing potion that could tackle the effect of the venom. Draco and Hermione both toiled hard to come up with that. She was the most forthcoming in your defense and for all of that, I am proud of her."

Gulping and choking over her next words she had just managed, "Oh Severus! I am so, so, sorry! If I could resurrect Albus somehow, I would throttle him thoroughly. He…he…how could he demand so much from you?"

Finally breaking down in renewed sobs, she had dropped her head over his chest and cried like a remorseful mother. The only consolation Severus could offer her was his stray tears which he could not manage to wipe off due to his lack of energy. Along with that, he kept squeezing her hand with his palm which she had never let go of.

When he had woken up much later into the day, the young witch was nowhere around. A tabby cat sat on her stool instead. Between its feline paws a small bouquet of baby's breath rested.

Similar innocent arrangements would find their way to his bedside daily. Gradually he had grown accustomed to those delicate bundles of baby's breath. Who would have thought such delicate, pious and idyllic tiny white flowers could bring such continuous joy. Severus Snape was, for a long time, unaccustomed with that singular undiluted feeling. Yet those flowery bundles brought back harsh memories, the very ones his occlumency shields had buried too deep inside his mind. All he could recollect was the contrasting feeling of joy and then the onslaught of anguish.

Often lying on his secluded hospital bed while looking up and watching how the rays of light made patterns on the pristine white yet cracked ceiling of the hospital wing, he thought his mind had truly suffered the worst repercussions. He would experience mood swings and sometimes he would find it too difficult to bring out a reaction, even if he badly wished for one. He had surmised that perhaps his greatest treasure, his mind, was failing him and that Nagini's venom had truly managed to kill his being.

Surprisingly, many of his former students had dropped by. Not Slytherins, but Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws and even a handful of Gryffindors stood by his bed and studied his medical charts while talking with Poppy in hushed whispers. Several of them were professional healers and potion masters and mistresses. He was proud and wary at the same time. So many people were trying to invest themselves so that he could recover. They came voluntarily, offering themselves to act as either therapists or healers.

Then, one fine morning, Minerva walked in with an old and stooping man. Severus thought he had finally lost it. This had to be an alternate universe he was oscillating in. Because in no way would the much-acclaimed Japanese Kokoro no masutā, Yūkan'na sō, would cross oceans specially to aid him in regaining his mental capacities!

Most of the later weeks the two men were led into an adjoining room where Yūkan'na sō would help Severus improve his shields and get more control over his cognitive power. The tedious mental exercises would leave the younger man exhausted and bereft of any emotion. But these were after he had, in an uncontrolled rage, managed to verbally strike at Miss Granger.

He no longer recalled what all had been said. He barely tolerated Poppy hovering over him and an additional person had simply grated on his fractured mind. The only thing he remembered was how broken and hurt the girl had looked, as if he had succeeded in breaking her spirit into a thousand pieces. She had shed a lone tear and slowly yet very quietly had left the hospital wing.

Those former students never mentioned who had been instrumental in gathering them and seeing to their arrival. But for a seasoned spy, Snape had grown suspicious with the growing support.

Glaring intently at the burning fireplace, Snape prayed in the deep recesses of his mind, "Miss Granger was always racing against time. I just hope she didn't get too carried away with her insatiable hunger for knowledge this time."

Kokoro no masutā (Japanese) – master of mind

Yūkan'na sō (Japanese)- brave monk

I took the help of Google translate, I might be wrong. Any corrective suggestion would be of great help.