Ch. 24 Afflictions and Deductions

Severus silently turned the page of a worn old book, and shifted his weight. He had been sitting in a very uncomfortable chair for the last three days. Next to him Tabatha Rewolf lay motionless in the hospital bed. Around her were bunches of flowers, cards and candy from the staff and two very concerned Gryffindor's in hope of her recovery. A small cough escaped Tabatha's lips and Severus quickly moved the book away and shifted closer to her. There was still no sign of conscious, and Severus's eyebrows furrowed in concern from the addition of this symptom.

Severus gaze softened as he noted how beautiful she looked to him. Her face was relaxed and placid and her fair complexion made her skin soft and flawless. Brown locks fell around the pillow framing her against its contrasting starkness and his fingers reached out and brushed against her hair softly.

It was very late, and Severus was more than grateful that no one would see this affectionate display. Not that he should really need to worry, the amulet had worked wonders the night of the horrible incident. As Severus rushed into the infirmary wing he overheard Hagrid complement him to Headmaster Dumbledore on his composed behavior in a crisis. How when Severus finally reached Tabatha he calmly listened for signs of life before his cool head helped her expel the water. No, Severus didn't have to hind his feelings, but doing so still made him feel safe. What he felt for Tabatha was private anyway, and Severus did not like to share the few things he felt was only for his personal enjoyment.

Looking at the time, Severus noticed it was time to take the latest brew of Awakening Potion off the fire in his class room, though the last applications did not seem to do much good.

Severus' hand reached out again, this time his back of his index finger ran soft down the side of her check, and bending close to her ear, he let his cheek brush against hers.

"I'll be back shortly I promise" he whispered then moved quickly away from her bed side in a flash of black robes.

No sooner than the door to the infirmary shut then a small shuffling sound started to emanate from the far corner of the room towards Tabatha's bed. Finally as the noise reached her bed side the curtain around her bed closed quickly and a young boy seemed to appear from out of nowhere.

Harry Potter folded up his Christmas gift and walked over to Tabatha side as he had done for the past three nights every time Professor Snape had gone to fix his potion. He had found her by accident Christmas night after he had found the Mirror of Erised. Perhaps it was his own grief of seeing the parents he never met that added to it, but Harry was beside himself with sadness for his friend. The next day tokens of affection from both he and Ron showed up on her bedside table, and he added a stop to visit her after the mirror in the evening, but now that was done.

"Hi again Miss" he said softly as he sat on the edge of the bed. "The headmaster found me tonight." A tear came to the corners of his eye. "He's moving the mirror, and I know why he's doing it, but still…I won't be able to see them anymore."

Looking at Ms. Rewolf Harry felt that she would have understood him, she too had been orphaned and if it wasn't for her friend would be totally along. Harry then looked over at the book on the side table and the indent on the chair.

"Professor Snape been here every night with you" Harry whispered.

"It's odd how he seems to be somewhat different around you, not as... not as evil. I guess that shouldn't be surprising, you're the nicest grown up here"

Harry smiled as he recalled making Christmas cookies with her a few days back. Half way through baking she started a flour fight with him and Ron. Harry couldn't rememeber laughing so hard in his life. After Ron and he triumphantly won, kitchen was such a disaster that Ms. Rewolf decided that magic, in this instance, was needed. She had been so nice to both of them, almost like a surrogate mother.

Harry reached his hand out and laid it on top of Tabatha's when he gasped and pulled it away just as the curtain flung open.

"Potter!" A cold whisper shot out.

Harry knew before he looked that it was none other than Professor Snape. He had let his mind wander too much in thought and because of that he did not hear the door of the infirmary open, and now he was face to face with a very annoyed Potions Master.

"What are you doing out of your dormitory at this time and why are disturbing Ms. Rewolf!" Severus made sure he stood as tall and foreboding as he could. Not only did Potter have no regards for rules he also had no respect for the ill, no respect Tabatha.

Anger filled his eyes as his voice remained icy calm.

"If I have my way not only will you lose more house points than ever recorded in the history of Hogwarts, but you will spend the next few years in dete…." Sevruse was suddenly cut off

"Fine, do what you want to me but she's burning up!" Harry bravely called out as he pointed back to Tabatha.

Severus eyes flashed from Harry back to Tabatha and back again to the boy.

"If you're lying to me so help you…" Severus spoke softly as he moved past Harry to Tabatha's side.

Her pale complexion had changed to rosier glow, and as his long fingers touched her head the heat surprised him. Glaring back at Harry, Severus clenched his teeth.

"What did YOU do" he growled and moved menacingly towards the boy.

"Nothing, I was sitting here talking to her and when I touched her hand I felt she had a temperature." Harry stammered as he backed up holding his hands up in a surrendering manor.

Just then a loud sound cracked from Tabatha's lips, she was coughing hard and her body was shaking from the force of it. Severus and Harry both ran over to either side of her as they watched her gasp for air. Involuntary Tabatha's head turned against the pillow and she let out three large coughs then whizzing she struggled to catch her breath. Severus and Harry froze.

"Merlin… What's going on out here" Madam Pomfrey came out from the back chamber and walked towards the commotion. "How is Ms. Rewolf going to get well will all this noise...? I knew it was a bad idea for visitors."

Before she could throw them out of her wing she was taken aback by what had both Severus and Harry horribly mesmerized. On Tabatha's pillow where she had turned to cough a large amount of blood was present.

"Bless me… what in the world..." Madam Pomfrey finally spoke.

Severus glared over at the Matron, "What? Do you mean you do not know what this is?"

Stammering she looked pleadingly to the Potions Master "Well… umm… I haven't… she's not like others… I have no idea."

Severus feared that in a moment there was no projection charm strong enough to shield the world from the rage and sorrow he was about to display. Until he heard another voice speak up.

" Pneumonia" Harry's voice was small

"Pneu-what?" Madam Pomfrey balked.

"I said she has pneumonia." Harry felt his confidence and bravery grow. "My uncle Vernon had this a few years back. It's a very serious muggle disease. My aunt went on and on that we were so lucky he hadn't died."

"A Muggle disease, impossible! " Madam Pomfrey scoffed. "She's a witch."

"She hasn't been for long" Harry's bravery continued.

Severus gazed at Harry with the tiny seed of new respect for his intellect, as the wheels in his own head started turning.

"No the boys right" he finally spat. "Ta..Ms. Rewolf has only been a witch for less than half a year. We have no precedence on how that could affect her physically."

Madam Pomfrey looked at both of them then shook her head sadly "Then I am no help to you, the magical world pays no attention to the strife of Muggles."

Severus stood there for a moment and let his mind get lost in thought. "There has to be a way" he silently pondered.

Suddenly his body jumped as his mind hit a possible solution. Quickly he walked over to Harry and pulled him by his collar over to the chair next to Tabatha.

"You are to stay here. You hear me?" His eyes locked with Harry's "You don't leave her side for a moment. If anyone tells you different they will deal with me when I return"

He turned his head and shot a look towards the matron. Then without letting Harry speak at all, Severus turned and dashed out the infirmary towards his office.

Severus reached the potions office moments later and burst through the door, quickly he riffled though stacks of books on his shelves, knock them over or tossing the side as he went. Finally he came to what he was looking for and grasped the dark tanned leather spin of the book and thrust it under his arm.

Making his way across the room Severus paused. His eyes softened and he turned on his heels and went into his room. Moving to the side of his bed he picked up the clipped newspaper photograph of him and Tabatha and carefully opened the book and lay between the front page and cover and closed it softly. He had all he needed.

Again he raced into the potions office and made his way over to the fireplace. Stopping only to grab a handful of floo powder, he used his wand to ignite the cold ambers into a furry of flames. He then threw the powder into them causing there red, orange glow to magically change into emerald green.

Severus then stepped into his hearth and walked into the flames, finally he spoke with forceful determination .

"Spinner's End!" with that Severus disappeared.