Chapter Twenty
The door opened and out came a healer in her lime-green robe.
"Are you Claire?" she addressed Professor McGonnagal. Her accent was German. A shortage of healers during the war had led to the employment of foreign specialists, who were attracted by the high salaries in Britain.
"No, I'm not. But Claire will be here soon. Why?"
"This Mr Snape is half-dead, but he absolutely refuses to take any potions, because they will make him sleep. He doesn't want to sleep before he has seen Claire. He's barely able to lift his head, but is stubborn as a mule. Who is this Claire? His wife?"
"In a way, yes."
The healer frowned.
"I hope she'll come soon, because he's coughing his lungs out."
With that she turned and went back to where she'd come from. Remus Lupin and Professor McGonnagal followed her. There were two beds, but only one was occupied.
They had washed him and shaved his face and he already looked a bit more like his former self, although the short grey hair made him look younger and less stern. His wrists were bandaged. He was lying on his back, eyes closed.
So frail and vulnerable, Minerva McGonnagal thought.
"How is he?" Lupin asked the healer.
"He's got pneumonia, but the crisis is over, he is undernourished and dehydrated. Rheumatism from the cold and the damp and shrunken muscles from lack of exercise. But with good care and patience he'll recover," the healer replied. "If he takes his potions," she added grimly.
"And his eyes?"
"Oh, yes, he needs glasses."
"Glasses? That's all?"
"Yes, he's short-sighted. He has to see a Muggle optician, they are much better than wizards with the production of lenses."
Violent coughing made them turn to the patient.
"Where's Claire?"
The voice was hoarse, the breath rasping. The healer rolled her eyes in exasperation. Minerva McGonnagal touched Severus's arm.
"She was stuck in a – what do Muggles call it? – traffic jam and couldn't make it to the trial in time. Mr Potter phoned her, she'll be here soon. Severus, don't worry, she isn't gone."
"Thank you," he closed his eyes again, "damn, I'm so weak and tired," he whispered angrily.
"You'll be better soon."
There was a knock at the door and in came Harry Potter and Claire, a very pale, tired-looking Claire. She stood still for a moment, taking in the scene and then went to the bed and looked down at its occupant. If she was shocked by his appearance, she didn't show it. She just watched him for a moment, and then gently touched his cheek.
"Severus?"
He opened his eyes.
"Claire!"
"About time," the healer muttered
He tried to sit up and Claire wrapped her arms around him.
"Oh, Severus!" Her tone was a mixture of joy and tears.
"Are you ready to take your potions now, Mr Snape?" the healer asked impatiently.
"Yes," Severus answered, and then turned to Claire, "will you stay?"
For an answer she hugged him again; then she sat on the bed, took his hand into hers and watched as the healer picked up the potion bottles from the bedside table and handed them to the patient one by one. Severus was ill, he was weak, he was in pain, but nothing could stop his potion master instincts. He studied each vial critically, sniffed at them, tasted their content carefully before finally swallowing the liquids. He drank the last one and shuddered. "Disgusting. At a place like St Mungo's one would expect potions of a superior quality. These are only mediocre, very badly brewed," he said and paid for the criticism with another coughing fit. He healer looked as if she wanted to throttle him. Instead she shook her head angrily and collected the empty vials. Severus sank back into the cushion, his breathing became calmer, his features relaxed and he was asleep.
"What's this?" Claire traced a bandaged wrist with her finger.
"Manacles." Lupin said.
The woman stared at him incredulously. So her fears about medieval prison conditions had been well-founded.
"What else has he got?"
"Pneumonia mainly, but his body will heal, Claire, it's his soul that we must care about." Claire nodded and caressed the thin hand.
"Stay with him," Minerva McGonnagal said, "don't worry about your lessons. I must return to Hogwarts, but I'll be back at the weekend."
She left. Harry Potter and Remus Lupin remained, but seemed embarrassed and eager to be gone as well.
"I'm so sorry about this," Harry finally said. "I didn't know, I really thought he had killed, he was a murderer, he…"
"It's OK, Harry, you couldn't have known. He'll be all right. Don't feel guilty."
Lupin's eyes still were on the sleeping man in the bed. "If you need help…"
"Not at the moment, thank you. You can go now, both of you. I can manage."
She smiled bravely and the two men left.
The healer felt Severus' pulse.
"He'll sleep for 24 hours, if you want to go home now, you can return later," she remarked, "you don't look very fit yourself."
Claire declined. "No, I would like to stay with him. I have everything I need with me. Can I use this bed?"
The healer wasn't very enthusiastic. Over-protective relatives and friends at the hospital weren't her idea of ideal healing conditions, but with regard to the patient's behaviour prior to the woman's arrival it was probably better if she stayed.
"Very well," she grunted, "stay."
She left and Claire remained sitting on the bed, tears in her eyes, tears of love and pity. He wouldn't want pity, but she couldn't hold it back and wept quietly for the horror of two years in prison and for the misery of a lifetime.
Thanks to J.K Rowling for the inspiring characters.