Disclaimer: I own nothing. J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter.
A/N: This is a Wishlist fic from a prompt provided by moondansr.
A/N2: Reviews are Good. This has been a subtle hint from the author - Please return to your regularly scheduled reading
Spoilers:Spoilers: Hmmm, I suppose up to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

part five: whole picture

-out through the already re-frozen ice and propelled (as gently as you can toss a person) from the Lake and onto the snow covered ground. Shivering and stunned by the cold and abrupt landing, her clothes drenched through and quickly freezing in the unforgiving cool air, Luna's body again blacked out.

"Poppy!" Severus Snape yells as he enters the Infirmary.

"Well, that was loud," the girl in his arms murmurs – and he was actually a bit surprised she had regained consciousness, let alone aware of her surrounding.

"Severus," the nurse proclaimed bustling in, wearing a thick night robe, her face set in disproving lines, "what is the matter - you'll wake half the castle.."

"I told the Professor he was being loud," Luna murmured, at that moment, and Severus felt vindicated when the nurse gave a start when she noticed the bundle in his arms.

She bustled forward and the girl's head lolled in the direction of the older woman - after a moment she frowned. "Where's your hat Ms. Poppy? I've always liked your hat."

"Oh dear, your soaking wet," the nurse fretted, ignoring the comment, her wand already at work.

"She was next to the Lake, soaking wet, freezing cold, and delirious when I came upon her Poppy," Severus reported, dutifully. "I did warming spells and some of the general charms you've taught me over the years but I'm worried about frostbite. The temperatures dropped extremely low this evening and I do not know how long she has been out there like this."

She nodded to him, showing she had heard before turning back to the girl. "Don't worry dear, we'll get you to rights."

"You should get your hat back Ms. Poppy. Hats have ancient magic," the girl said seriously.

She frowned worriedly at her patient's words and Snape just snorted. "It is hard to tell if she is delirious or if it is just Lovegood," he muttered, adjusting his hold on her.

"Severus," Poppy chided, glaring at him. "Get her on the cot, I have work to do."

Keeping his mouth shut, he set her down and backed away, watching as the nurse set some clothing and potions upon the side table before waving her wand so that the privacy curtains sprang up.

He should have just left then - but something stopped him.

Because he had been inside of the castle, in his rooms (warm and out of that biting cold) and just known that he had to get out and look for something outside now. New exactly where to go find the Lovegood girl even, felt a distinct pull on his mind to do so. A cry for help, that was not human - and Severus had gone to investigate, needing answers to whatever could reach out and touch the shields in his mind in this way.

When he found Luna Lovegood, completely drenched and half-frozen in the snow, babbling about Giant Squids, mental bonds, and loneliness some of the puzzle pieces had fallen into place in a disconcerting way. They thought the creature in the lake was benign, but any knowledge that was once actually known about it had been long lost.

And this was only some of the puzzle pieces, after all. Some - not all.

Severus wanted to see the whole picture.