A Promise to be Better 7
Author: Raven Dancer
disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling except for the Drs. Barnes and Beryl. I receive no monetary compensation for these works.
Summary: While Snape rests under Barnes' watchful eye, Dumbledore continues to run the school.
Snape woke slowly. It was dark. Quiet. Warm.
He rolled and started to snuggled back into the covers when he remembered the reason for his waking. Covers floated back and he got up. Wandering a bit he looked for the loo. It seemed to have moved. Blinking, he glanced about.
His body moved again, propelled towards a door that opened and led into the loo. A bit strange. Didn't look like his loo. With a shrug he attended to business. Tile was cold. Window was open slightly letting in the cool autumn air. Shivering, he washed and went back into the bedroom.
This was off, too. The bed was not where he'd left it. He couldn't see very well in the gloom, but he knew his bed should be over on the far wall. Except in his room the 'far wall' wasn't that far. Confused, he tried to remember if Dobby and Beryl had gone on one of their cleaning binges and moved walls. Another nudge, he moved over to the bed and sat on the edge. A cup was in his hands, lifted to his lips he drank a little, then deeper, the liquid was cool and smelled of an early spring day full of rain and wind.
Blinking, the cup moved away and he felt himself climbing back into the bed. Soo warm. The covers seemed to hug him as he curled around a large pillow. With a happy sigh he drifted back into the unremarkable dreams he'd been having.
"He's cold," Dumbledore the pillow complained.
"Got lost going to the loo. Didn't fully wake up," Barnes commented as he curled close, monitoring the Potions Master's sleep.
"Gave him some more sleeping draught," the Healer yawned.
Silence blanketed the room and they joined Snape in sleep.
Snape slept very late, not waking until lunch. Barnes was moderately pleased, the wizard at least looked rested, the dark circles under his eyes had mostly disappeared. He stumbled into the loo and returned awake.
"So, did I miss Friday?" he asked as he accepted a cup of tea.
"Not entirely," Barnes answered, "it's only lunchtime." Nodding, Snape sipped at the hot tea.
"Chamomile?" he asked with a frown.
"Chamomile," Barnes answered, "good for you."
"Blackberry?" Snape asked hopefully. The healer grinned.
"Tomorrow, if you're good," he returned. He received a sneer.
"I'm good. No one notices," he sulked. A plate of sliced fruit appeared before him followed by a hot bowl of chicken stew. Rolls came next. Barnes watched his reaction to the food ready to change it if needs be. He was determined Snape was going to eat today. The Potions Master selected a piece of bread and tore it open. After taking a bite he accepted the serving spoon placing a small serving of stew on his plate.
Fruit was nudged towards him and he picked up a piece of melon and ate it. Gently coaxing the wizard was led through the entire meal. Snape allowed the nudging, taking a little more stew. Once done a few dessert choices came up with a fresh pot of tea. With a small grin Barnes poured out a fresh cup.
"Blackberry, Severus?" he handed over the cup with a slice of banana bread. With a happy sigh the Potions Master accepted the cup and leaned back into the chair. He was drowsy again. He wondered if he should get ready to teach the afternoon class of 7th year students. He watched as the Healer rummaged through his stash of potions selecting two separate vials. These were opened and the contents sniffed before added to a small cup of juice. This was stirred completely then offered to Snape.
"The potion of the day is?" He asked as he took it from Barnes. Without waiting he swallowed the slightly bitter concoction.
"Oh, a couple things I had lying around the office. Wanted to see what effect they had on the human body," he teased.
Snape raised an eyebrow.
"Remind me to notify the Ministry about your testing practices," the Potions Master said dryly. Barnes laughed.
"It's to help keep you less stressed. I have several different types of potions for anxiety and all weekend to try them on you," he smiled.
"Oh joy," groused Snape. "Don't you have any better thing to do with your time than drug me up?"
"Nothing as much fun!" the Healer asserted. He watched Snape toying with the sweet bread. His vocal tone was sarcastic but his body language was not. Shoulders hunched, face slightly bowed as if carrying some heavy weight. Reaching for the tea pot Barnes poured out more tea for both of them.
"You are exhibiting the classic signs of a nervous break down, Severus. You're not sleeping, you're extremely anxious, you are under incredible stress both here with the changes Albus wants you to make and having to go back to Voldemort. Then you add to that the gossip mill and Mcgonagall," Barnes listed.
"Gossip mill?" Snape said with deadly frost. Barnes proceeded to kick himself mentally hard!
"Oh, just the normal stuff," he hedged.
"Normal stuff?" Snape pressed, sitting up straight.
"Severus, it's nothing," the Healer squirmed.
"If it's nothing Barnes, why are you so uncomfortable?" Snape pushed relentlessly. He continued to prod the Healer until he began to reluctantly dgetail what rumors he'd heard. The Potions Master became incredibly quiet.
"I have a class to teach, doctor," he finally said, pushing up and disappearing into the bedroom.
"That's not a good idea, Severus," Barnes called after him. The potions would make him sleepy. Not a good thing for advanced potions that required critical attention. He moved to the bedroom door and watched the wizard slowly pull out clothing. He noted his patient was leaning against the bureau. Probably dizzy. Side effects were a problem. After a moment he pushed away and moved to the lounge.
"Damn," he cursed, "I can't teach like this," Snape sank down and sat on the edge. Barnes came across the room and sat next to him.
"I'm sorry, Severus. Gossip is cruel, especially since you can't defend yourself from it," Barnes placed a hand on the wizards' shoulder.
"No, I can't," Snape agreed, "if I tried it would just give them more fodder. And if I tried to teach weaving around like this I can imagine how they'd twist it."
"So you'll stay here this afternoon?" the Healer gently asked.
"Yes, Jeffrey," the wizard sighed, "I'll stay here."
"Good. You can just relax this afternoon. We can talk tomorrow if you're up to it. In the long run the only way to combat the gossip is to get better," Barnes pointed out.
"At least the students don't have a clue. They are curious, but more accepting," Snape commented. Barnes rubbed his shoulder softly. Even with the potion it was tight.
"Look at it this way, Albus is getting great hands-on experience in the classroom," Barnes said. The Potions Master thought about this a minute.
"Yes, although I'd love to see him with the Weasley twins. I do hope he knows how to use the safety shower," a slow grin spread over Snape's face at the thought. He'd been in the shower nearly every Friday (and Tuesday and Thursday) for the past three weeks. He allowed the Healer to bring him back out to the sitting area and tuck him into a comfortable chair while he fetched more tea and the newspaper.
"We'll just relax a bit, Severus," Barnes said, pulling out a notepad. Snape glanced at him, eyebrow quirked.
"Uh huh. I always take copious notes when I relax," Snape muttered, shaking out the paper.
Several hours later the Headmaster returned slightly damp around the edges. Snape was peacefully dozing in the chair while Barnes worked a crossword puzzle. Being a wizard's puzzle it was giving him 'helpful' hints.
"No, no, that's not spelled right; and a sitar is a muggle's musical instrument not a piece of furniture," the puzzle chastised.
"Settee?" Dumbledore asked as he shook out his cloak.
"Enough letters, at least," the puzzle noted. Barnes tossed it aside in mock disgust.
"I hate it when animated objects are smarter than me," he grumbled. The headmaster snorted and walked over to the Potions Master, running his hand across his face pushing his hair back. The wizard started slightly, blinking then smiled sheepishly as he realized where he was and who was by him.
"Hi Albus," Snape murmured, leaning back once more.
"Wouldn't you be more comfortable on the couch?" the older man asked, continuing to gently stroke his face. Sleepy, Snape leaned into the touch.
"Tried to move him earlier, he was rather adamant about staying put," Barnes interjected.
"Didn't want to fall asleep," Snape protested.
"I can see you're wide awake, child," Dumbledore soothed, cupping his face.
"Let's move to the couch," he pulled the Potions Master up and managed to get him to the couch, ending up being a pillow once more. Snape curled up tight, holding onto the Headmaster's robes.
"Hmmm, I have the feeling you've gone ahead with your plan to try out those anti-anxiety potions," Dumbledore mused as he carded his fingers through Snape's hair. The wizard sighed happily and started to fall back asleep.
"Yes, we tried one at lunch. It should wear off in another hour," Barnes smiled. "He has not been stressed at all."
"Looks like he's been comatose," Dumbledore noted, moving his hand to rest on Snape's shoulder.
"Unstressed, comatose, same thing," Barnes sighed. "Don't worry, I have other potions. If anything he'll be well rested by Monday."
"That's very true," the Headmaster agreed. "Did you have time to talk with Severus?"
"Not really; I managed to get lunch into him and was just starting to get onto discussing his stress when I made the mistake of mentioning the gossip," Barnes ruefully admitted.
"I gather he didn't take the news very well?" Dumbledore looked down at the sleeping wizard, smoothing hair and gentling worry lines.
ÎNo, he did not. I could have kicked myself for having mentioned it," Barnes admitted.
"He was bound to find out. Best he knows now and can work out ways to deal with it than having a surprise like I did last night. I think my jaw hit the table," Dumbledore said wryly.
"That would explain the bruise," Snape said softly.
"Thought you were asleep, Severus," the Headmaster smiled at his friend.
"Pillow's talking," the wizard complained. He turned so he was flat on his back looking up. "And itchy," he continued patting the ever present beard.
"Picky git, aren't you?" the older man countered curling his lip up. Snape stilled.
"I'm teasing, Severus," a hand rested quietly on the younger man's chest, feeling the heart beating a little too hard.
"You're getting my sneer down," came the somewhat subdued response. Dumbledore only moved to stroke hair back and smile.
"Do you want to sleep a little more?" he asked gently.
A soft 'no'.
"Do you want some tea?" asked BÙarnes, leaning forward.
"I know I could use some," Dumbledore added. "How you tolerate that cold shower is beyond me!" That caused Snape to smile.
"Oh, tell me the Weasleys' didn't spill on you," he asked.
Dumbledore pretended to pout. "Not so much spill as fling. I never knew those two boys were so jumpy. They must have charmed the paddle to stir at a constant rate and forgot about it. All I can say it's a good thing we never carpeted the dungeons," the Headmaster kept his hand against Snape's head. As long as the wizard would accept the comforting Dumbledore was willing to give it.
"They tried that once last year. I'm rather surprised they tried it again. I know they hated the detention with Filch," he stretched slightly then attempted to sit up. The change caused him to pale and grimace slightly.
"Dizzy?" Barnes asked, moving over to the couch beside him quickly, hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah, just a bit," Snape admitted, letting Barnes and Dumbledore keep him safely upright.
"Residual side-effects," the Healer explained. "A little tea will help. Earl Gray?" Snape nodded very slightly before lifting his head again and trying the world with his eyes opened.
"Some sandwiches? Crackers and cheese?" Barnes asked, hopefully.
"Ok," came the reply.
"Yes, I could do with a little something about now," Dumbledore agreed.
Barnes pushed up and rang for the house elf. Beryl presented himself nearly immediately.
"Yes sirs?" the elf bounced about. Snape attempted to follow the creature before groaning and closing his eyes. Dumbledore gently pulled him against his shoulder.
"Rest your head, Severus," he murmured. Barnes was telling the elf what they wanted when a knock sounded at the Headmaster's door and McGonagall pushed the door open.
"Headmaster?" the witch called out. Snape pushed away from the comforting shoulder. Which didn't help his equilibrium. He struggled with sitting then gave up, sinking backwards into the couch's back.
Dumbledore stood and began to move around to meet the witch. She certainly had a strange look on her face.
"Yes, Minerva. Come in. We were about to have some tea," he explained. The strange look settled into anger as she focused on Snape's head.
"I wish to speak with you privately, Headmaster," she said as coldly as possible. There was no mistaking the glare. Dumbledore waved her over to his desk.
"Privately," she repeated, a little louder and sharper. Snape pushed up and in one fluid movement gained his feet. He turned and stumbled towards the bedroom knowing he'd never make it out the door down to the dungeons. Somehow he made it to the door jamb, leaned against it briefly before pushing off again and disappearing into the room. Having finished with Beryl, Barnes followed Snape quickly hoping he would make itQ safely to the bed or chair. The door closed behind the Healer.
Sitting down at his desk Dumbledore cooly regarded the agitated woman. She stiffly walked over to a chair next to the desk and sat down.
"Headmaster, I must speak with you about Professor Snape's deplorable behavior," she said. He quirked an eyebrow.
"Professor Snape's behavior?" he asked calmly.
"Yes, Headmaster. I thought you had spoken with him about how he treats his students in and out of class," she looked at him sharply.
"Severus and I have discussed his professional bearing in the class. He has made the changes I have suggested as well as a few of his own," he outlined carefully.
"I'm sure you have," McGonagall agreed, "but I'm not satisfied with those 'changes'. I believe he's done a lot of harm to many of the more sensitive students." She leaned back daring him to refute her.
"I know he had problems the first week of school Minerva. We spoke then and I took the steps necessary to help him. He has improved a great deal, I have seen no further evidence of that behavior since," he countered.
"I'm not so sure, Headmaster. I had to go down into the dungeons to retrieve Neville Longbottom. The child was in shock. I have no idea what the man did to him," she said.
Dumbledore was surprised. There was no way the child was in shock or harmed by his talk with the Potions Master.
"That is a serious accusation, Professor. Are you prepared to bring Mr. Longbottom up here to speak with me?" he met her glare with a cool gaze. She shifted and looked away.
"I'm not leveling any accusations," she muttered. "I'm simply stating what I've observed."
"Minerva, I think you need to step back and take another look at Severus. He is working on changing. He's even going to tutor Longbottom and Granger on Saturday afternoon," Dumbledore tried to soothe her.
"So they miss the Hogsmeade trip, I see," she snapped back.
"No, Minerva. No. They're meeting at 4 pm after the students return from the village," he fought not to mimic her tone.
"I believe he's giving Longbottom the opportunity to try brewing his failed potion from Thursday's class and offered Granger a chance to do some advanced work." McGonagall processed this information slowly.
"Advanced work?" she queried.
"I believe Miss Granger has indicated she'd like a challenge. Professor Snape can certainly give her that," Dumbledore explained. The Transfiguration teacher relaxed slightly.
"Well, it seems you are working with Professor Snape," she allowed.
"Yes, I am," he agreed.
"It seems academic probation can be a good thing, then," McGonagall continued.
"Academic probation? Severus is not on probation. Who told you that?" Dumbledore asked sharply. The witch immediately stiffened.
"I heard it in the staff lounge; I'm not sure who brought it up," she danced along the edge of truth.
"I would appreciate it greatly if you would put an end to any rumors you hear regarding Professor Snape. He is not on probation. He is doing much better in class," the Headmaster said heatedly.
"He's in your bedroom, too. That was mentioned in the staff room as well," McGonagall pointed out.
"Exactly what are you implying, Minerva?" Dumbledore looked at the witch with the most frosty of expressions.
"I'm implying nothing. Most people stay in the hospital wing or in Hogsmeade's clinic when they're sick. The staff is bound to be curious why he's given special treatment," McGonagall said with a shrug of her shoulders. The Headmaster weighed her words, initially wanting to blast her out of the room.
"Most staff, most of the wizarding community, does not know what Professor Snape has gone through for our safety and well-being. Nor am I disposed to discussing it in this atmosphere. Suffice to say Severus has more than earned the right to rest here whenever he wants," Dumbledore said with great finality. McGonagall fidgeted a moment.
"I apologize for questioning you, Headmaster," she said quietly. The wizard's face softened.
"Thank you, Minerva. I was very upset when I found out about the gossiping. It is not fair to Severus to be attacked by his colleagues. Especially since he'Ks trying," he said quietly.
"Is there anything I should know? To help Severus?" she asked tentatively. Again, Dumbledore weighed his words very carefully.
"Only that he's under a great deal of pressure right now. I believe you should be seeing some changes in your house as they get used to Severus's teaching methods. It would help if you could help quell the rumor mill. No one deserves to be discussed and torn apart," he said.
McGonagall agreed and gathered herself to leave. Dumbledore saw here to the door, closing it firmly behind the witch. He leaned against it trying to calm down. He knew change was difficult, but this was nearly impossible. He wondered if McGonagall would really help or if he'd only given her more ammunition for discussion. Pushing away, the Headmaster went to check on his Potions Master.
