Author's note: The final part of my story! Please tell me what you think about the story and whether you liked it or not. Thanks!

Yours truly,

severussnape922

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling. I do not earn any profit from writing this.

Harry's POV

Harry paced in circles outside the hospital wing anxiously, throwing worried glances at the door every few minutes. Despite Severus's and Harry's mutual enmity in Harry's school days, (which seemed like eons away now), all ill feeling towards Severus had been banished immediately when Harry knew that Severus was actually a spy for the Light. Harry remembered Severus's glassy and his feverish eyes, and hoped dearly that Severus would be fine.

When Minerva breezed out of the hospital wing, looking slightly relieved, Harry stepped forward quickly and began bombarding Minerva with a barrage of questions. Minerva shook Harry's questions of with a casual flick and replied, "Severus seems to be fine. Probably our dear Professor will be up and about within a week. You can visit him now." Harry watched Minerva's slight figure fade into the impenetrable darkness, feeling as if a burden had been lifted off his shoulders.

Harry walked into the hospital wing briskly, noting with much relief that Severus seemed to be sleeping peacefully now. Poppy beckoned Harry over, whispering to Harry not to disturb Severus in his deep slumber. I waved my wand, conjuring a wooden seat. I shook my head regretfully, reminiscing the comfortable chintz chair that Albus could so aptly conjure. Oh well, I'll just have to make do with it, I suppose. I sat in the chair, suddenly feeling weary to the bone. I folded my arms and leaned forward, escaping into the land of dreams.

Severus's POV

Severus awoke with a groan. He rubbed his eyes wearily, taking stock of his surroundings. It slightly surprised him that Potter was at his bedside, he thought that Potter didn't care a hoot about me. He sat up straighter in the fluffy bed, causing a creak of bedsprings. Severus froze and swore under his breath. The creak would probably alert Poppy of his return to the land of the living. That overprotective mediwitch would probably bustle towards him, forcing Severus to take yet another damned dozen of potions, all brewed by yours truly. Severus secretly regretted making his potions as foul-tasting as possible for the students. Then again, Severus had never envisaged himself getting remotely sick one day.

True enough, Poppy bustled in, grabbed a handful of potions, and thrust it into his unwilling arms. Severus forced down the assortment of potions, while trying to no avail to distract himself from the bitterness of his potions. Poppy is probably having a field day now, having her most 'wanted' teacher under her orders for now. Severus thought with a grin. But it will not be for long... Severus already felt much better, owing to the cocktail of potions. He slid out of bed silently, walking around the pristine hospital wings to stretch his stiff legs.

When Poppy dashed back to Severus's bed, holding yet another armful of potions, she looked taken aback. "Severus! Feeling a lot better already, I see!" Severus smiled faintly at Poppy. "Yes, Poppy. Please stop giving me the potions, I am perfectly able to choose what potions I need, thank you very much." Poppy looked distinctly ruffled and affronted, but she agreed resignedly, knowing a lot better than to argue with the Potions Master.

Poppy's POV

Poppy was extremely surprised by Severus's apparent quick recovery. But then again, nothing less than I expected, seeing that Severus has always been a hardy person. She agreed reluctantly with the Potion Master's request, knowing that Severus could fend for himself now. The last thing that remained to be done... Poppy took a handful of Floo powder, threw it into her fireplace and shouted, "The Headmistress's Office!"

Poppy felt herself enveloped in a brief warmth, then the warmth was replaced by the chill in the air caused by the autumn. Minerva looked up from her work, seeing Poppy's radiant face, then evenly said, "Good news about Severus, I hope?" Poppy nodded, and replied, "Severus is already up on his feet. I think that it will only take a day or two before Severus can return to work." Minerva nodded, acknowledging the news, then fondly said, "Severus... what an enigmatic person." I agreed with her, but now was not the time to discuss it. I took another handful of Floo powder, then added to Minerva as an after note," You can visit Severus again today, his condition is sufficiently stable."

Minerva treated me with one of her rare smiles, and replied, "Thanks for taking care of Severus, Poppy." I felt myself turning red as a beetroot, and I quickly added, "It was nothing, Minerva." With that, I vanished into the curtain of green flames.


One week later

Severus's POV

Severus allowed himself a thin-lipped smile as he said to Minerva, "Checkmate, Minerva."

Minerva sighed as she put aside the board of wizard's chess, and said, "Where did you ever learn your chess skills, I haven't beaten you once this evening."

Severus flicked his wand as he reset the chessboard, while remarking lazily, "Patience, Minerva, patience. Maybe one day you will be as good as me in chess... but I strongly doubt so. You Gryffindors are too headstrong, always rushing into things, which probably is why you kept losing to me, a sly Slytherin."

"You horrible bat! How could you say that about Gryffindors?" Minerva asked in mock hurt as she made her first move.

"Probably because it is in my nature to do so." Severus replied, while focusing on his next move.

"Much better than last week, right, Severus?" Minerva asked slyly while she attacked one of Severus's bishops.

Severus smiled and laughed genuinely while moving his knight. "Too right, Minerva."