Ch. 28 The Referee and The Visitor

"Absolutely not!" Severus spat at Tabatha as he pulled his over coat over his shoulders and turned away from her to look in the mirror.

"Sev, it's been over a month, I think it might be safe for me to leave the chambers." Tabatha laughed as she shook her head in disbelief.

"Maybe safe for you to leave the chambers, but that in no way means that you're healthy enough to go outside in the damp February air to watch a bunch of dunderheads play who can die first on a broom." Severus spoke cool as his thin fingers moved each of his many black buttons though there loops.

"But your refereeing! I don't want to miss that". Tabatha continued

Severus let a hidden smile cross his lips. She wanted to go, to watch him, just him. The idea made him rather pleased.

"I'm sure you'll get a chance to watch me join in on that so called archaic game again, but your health is not worth the risk." Severus turned around to see Tabatha sitting in the middle of the bed pouting. Pointing his finger at her he continued. "Cuteness will not get you anywhere… this time." A small twinge of his lip caught the end of his words, damn she was amusing.

"Fine, I'll be a grownup. Tabatha let her smile return to her face. "But I want a blow by blow report of the match when you get back!" she pointed her own finger back at him.

Severus walked slowly over to the bed "of course madam" he gave a curt head bow "what are friends for."

Then he gave a small smile and walked out of Tabatha's bedroom into the office then out into the hall.

As Severus walked through the castle he secretly hoped she would heed his words, but that in and of its self was a gamble. He was well aware that for the past six weeks he had been protective, maybe even over protective of her since she awoke. But could one really blame him, he had almost lost her, a fate that seemed almost worse than death at this time.

He remembered the morning she finally came back to him, he had had a rough evening the night before and found comfort being physically close to her, so he climbed into bed with her for the night. The next morning he awoke to a brilliant pink glow in room and the sensation of fingers gliding though his hair. For a moment he had thought it was a dream until he heard her voice, a bit ragged from no use, but still the same it was hers.

"Good morning Severus."

Never in his life did he name sound as sweet or precious as it did that moment. Fear that it was all a dream was to overpowering at first and it took him almost a full minute to allow his eyes to move up to her face. When he did however he was greeted by her groggy hazel eyes.

Thinking back now Severus was glad she looked so fragile at the time, or he may have not been able to control his burning desire to take her lips with his. But that did not stop him from cupping her face in his hands and letting his dark eyes turn to warm pools of affection for her as he softly inquired where she had been. Or how his heart skipped a bit when she whispered back "I was always here with you", then processed to request a glass of water, to which he jumped up and retrieved in moments.

After that Severus had made sure that her ever need was met, even if that meant he would have to occasionally override her personal wants for the greater good of her health. Today was the not the first time they butted heads and Severus was aware that she soon would be well enough resume life out from his always present watch. Truthfully Severus wasn't sure how he felt about that.

As Severus entered the Quiddich field the remembered another thing he was not sure of. Slowly he made his way to his refereeing broom.

It's not that Severus could not ride a broom, he could and he was more than adequate at it, however he couldn't help feeling a bit silly sitting there with a large wood stick between his legs. No Severus often found other ways to travel, but today he was going get on the broom and referee the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff match.

After the last match when Potter's broom didn't act quite right, Severus had a feeling that something was amiss in the castle and that it was directly related to a certain person. Perhaps being on the field would help him get some answers as well as make sure Potter didn't end up a casualty of the game, and hopefully also avoid becoming a roasted marshmallow himself.

Severus held his hand out and the broom flew of the ground. As he lifted his right leg and straddled the broom he looked down at the dark wooden stick which was jetting out of his groin.

"Great cosmic power and this is the best design we can come up with." he thought as he rolled his eyes before kicking off the ground and soaring up into the Quiddich field towards the Gryffindor stands.

"Good afternoon Professor," McGonagall cheerfully greeted Severus as he came into ear shot.

"Afternoon" He coolly spoke back as he looked around the stands. "Is Headmaster Dumbledore attending?"

"Aye yes, he just wanted to make sure he had enough lemon sherbet to last the match, he will be returning shortly, he's looking forward to seeing young Potter play." McGonagall smiled deeply.

"Oh I'm sure you're thrilled" Severus gave her a focused smile back "also, have you seen Professor Quirrell?"

"Aye this morning after breakfast, he said he was saddened he hadn't been able to visit Ms. Rewolf in her illness. He said since you would be here this afternoon, he would be happy to keep her company during the game." McGonagall said in a matter of fact manor as she looked around the field.

"He's going to what? Visit her, because I'm not there." Severus spook in half a whisper, his face going whiter than normal.

"Sorry? What was that Professor?" McGonagall queried "I didn't quite hear you."

Severus licked his lips and looked around nervously, then flew closer to Professor McGonagall.

"Minerva I can't referee today, I have to take care of a pressing matt.. Severus was cut off by an aggravated Head of Gryffindor House.

"Severus Snape you are not going to back out of this! You know full well if there is no referee then the game will be forfeit and if that happens Gryffindor will have no chance of overtaking Slytherin in the house championship, talk about a typical Slytherin thing to do!

Severus looked back at the witch in amazement for a minute, really was she that oblivious of everything around her? Severus' anger grew, if he left now it would just appear that he was cheating in order for his team to win. The nerve of her! Slytherin had been house champion for seven years, seven! And if it wasn't for Potter it would be going on the eighth.

At that moment Severus heard the crowd cheer and then turning around he saw the Gryffindor team take the field. Severus glared at their seeker. If it wasn't for Potter he would not be in this situation at all, and truthfully either would Tabatha. Again he looked back at McGonagall.

"I guess my matter will have to wait." He spat at her and then in a huff flew away, his eyes filled with anger as he glared at the teams, in the corner of his eye he noticed Granger and Wesley staring up him, he shot them an ice cold look.

"Fine!" Severus murmured to himself as the game started. "If I have to be here then I'm going to make it worth my time, and everyone better just hope to Merlin that not a hair on Tabatha's head is harmed."

Just then George Weasley had hit a Bludger at straight at him, as he ducked he growled. "Penalty to Gryffindor!". The crowd in red did not respond well.

In her chambers Tabatha was pulling on her sweater when she heard the knock on the potions office door. Walking over she started to ponder who it could be, she assumed everyone was at the match, perhaps Mipsy had come for a visit.

"Who is it?" Tabatha called curiously.

"H..h..hello M…m…Ms. Rewolf, It P..Professor Q..Quirrell, I'vve come to see how your d..doing." A stuttering voice sored though the door.

Tabatha was a bit taken back, Professor Quirrell has never visited before, but in the past few weeks lots of staff had come to see her. Slowly she opened the door and there stood the nervous Professor with a small smile on his face.

"Please come in Professor, it's so nice of you to visit." She gave her warmest smile back but his eyes still didn't seem right to her.

Professor Quirrell stepped into the potions chamber and eyed the room anxiously "P..professor Snape is at the match I presume?"

"Um.. Yes, he's refereeing, weren't you aware? I thought the whole school knew." Tabatha kept her voice warm but her eyes were perplexed.

"Oh, uuummm Y..yes, I mmmmust have forgot. Sssily me." Quirrell smiled curtly as his sat on the sofa.

"Oh, well I guess that happens." Tabatha quipped as she walked over to Severus desk and pulled his chair over to sit across from the Professor. "Would you like a cup of tea?"

"Y..yes that would be l..lovely" Quirrell nodded to her.

Tabatha got up and walked over to the kettle on the stove as Quirrell continued to talk.

"Y..you gave us.. a..all a this year. T..thank.. goodness… y..you , it m..must have been and o..ordeal." Quirrell again flashed a troubled smile as he took the tea cup Tabatha handed to him.

"Thank you Professor, but honestly I don't remember much from that night. I just remember going on the ice and then a flash next thing I knew I was waking up some two weeks later in bed." Tabatha lifted her own tea cup to her lips and took a sip.

"W…well I hear P..professor S..snape was quite the hero . N..not only did he s..save y..you, but h..he figured out how to you as well." Quirrell tapped his fingers lightly on his tea cup as he spoke.

"Well yes, I think Professor Snape was quite heroic, and I'm sure he would have done it for any of the students or staff he found in that same situation. As for the cure, well we all know how brilliant his mind is at potions." Tabatha smiled politely.

"I..I heard..it was not r..regular magic that s..saved you, s…since you became m..magical.. ssso l..l..late in l..l..life. A m..mixure of and m..muggle medicine?" Quirrell kept his voice soft.

Tabatha smiled warmly again. "What is this guy getting at?" she thought quietly to herself.

"Well yes Professor Quirrell I heard the same as you."

"E..ever, e..ever, wonder y..you turned so late in life? I.. I mean I was you I w..would be e..exceedingly curiouse of who I was, and w..where I came from."

Tabatha smiled a bit; it was not often she was asked how she felt about her whirl wind existence here in Hogwarts. Severus never brought it up, she supposed that might be a bit of fear that if they found out where she came from, she might avertedly want to go back. However truth was without memories it was hard to miss anything, her sense of who she was, was directly wrapped in her experience here, her experiences with Severus.

But Tabatha seemed to be a naturally curious creature and lately the questions of who she actually was and where she came from was creeping into her mind. She needed muggle medicine intertwined with magic to save her, things that were unheard of. She was defiantly not typical by any means, not as a muggle and not as a witch.

"M..ms. Rewolf, a..are y..you ok? ill again are w..we?" Quirrell looked over at her with seeming genuine concern.

Tabatha shook her head. "No, I'm ok I was just thinking how curious it can be." She smiled warmly.

Quirrell smiled and stood up. "W..would you to go for a in the castle, I'm s..sure a change in s..s..scenery w..would do you good."

Tabatha thought for a moment, Severus not forbid her to leave the chamber, in fact he almost agreed that it was safe enough for her to do so. Anyway it was just a walk in the castle, she was not going outside and she was in the company of a teacher. Granted a very creepy teacher, but let's be real here for most people Severus was way more creepy then this guy and she hung around him all the time. Also the same logic worked here didn't it, if Dumbledore found Severus save and trustworthy, then she was sure he felt the same way about Quirrell. Tabatha made up her mind.

"Yes a walk would be lovely Professor." She smiled warmly and stood up grapping her cloak.

"I…I hear the t..third f..floor c..corridor has some interesting piece in it." Quirrell called out as Tabatha followed him out into the hallway.