Chapter 7. The Healing Begins

During the next week, Severus and Bronwyn spent a great deal of time outside in the gardens and picking herbs for the various potions that she would need after her surgery. They also spent a great deal of time playing catch and teaching Snowflake to obey vocal and hand signals. The little dog was very intelligent and soon was following Bronwyn everywhere picking up things she dropped and sleeping close by. Severus wasn't keen on the dog sleeping on the bed, but relented when he realized their bond was so strong that the dog would return to the bed as soon as he left the room.

Severus also made several trips to London to different music stores to pick up scores that Bronwyn asked for. She told him she could read music as well as reading regular words and the music kept her mind off the upcoming surgery. He soon learned to recognize her moods by the music she played and he even found that brewing his potions while she was playing could be very soothing.

In the middle of the week, Severus took Bronwyn to Hogwarts so she could see the castle and where she would be living. She was fascinated by the stairs that moved and the talking portraits he took her to visit all the Houses and meet Professor Sprout, Vector and of course, Minerva and Albus. Fillius was also there and tweaked the charms on the chair so that it would work more easily in the large castle. She met all the ghosts and loved Sir Nicholas and The Grey Lady and even managed to get a smile out of The Bloody Baron, the Slytherin ghost. After a stern warning from both the Baron and Severus even Peeves swore to leave the little girl alone.

Soon they went down to the dungeons so Severus could inspect the additions the elves made to his quarters. The bedrooms were as large as his and the bathroom had a large sink and tub of dark blue with and dark blue and white tiles on the walls and floor. There were handrails next to the toilet and tub so that Bronwyn could eventually learn to be more independent in it.

"But young lady," Severus said in his most stern teacher's voice. "You are not allowed to use this unless I am with you were one of the elves. Do you understand?"

"Yes Uncle Severus." Bronwyn said. She quickly went into the bedroom and after looking around she asked "Can we decorated this like my room at home?"

"Of course. Tillie!" The little elf popped in immediately. "Yes Master Severus?"

"Mistress Bronwyn would like this room decorated like her room at home."

"Of course Little Mistress!" The elf squeaked. With a snap of her fingers, the room instantly changed to an exact copy of Bronwyn's room at Prince Manor. Bronwyn was delighted then turned to her uncle and said, "May I have a piano too?" Severus nodded and waved his wand causing a baby grand piano to appear. "Of course your lessons must be completed before you can play."

Bronwyn smiled and nodded. This was the first time she'd been this happy since her father died. She floated up in her chair so she could hug Severus and kiss him. Suddenly her face clouded over and she floated back to the ground.

"What is wrong child?" Severus asked her. "Are you ill?" Bronwyn shook her head no and said, "I don't have any pictures of them." The Potions Master smiled and said, "I think we can take care of that we get home. All right?"

He scooped Bronwyn up in his arms, shrank her chair putting it in his pocket and stepping to the fireplace he threw down some Floo powder and called "Prince Manor library!"

When they arrived at the library, he sat Bronwyn on the couch and searched for some albums he had kept of the time his sister went to Hogwarts and was first married to Joseph Griffiths. Sitting down on the couch, he began to show them to Bronwyn who was mesmerized by the moving pictures of her mother in her school robes. There were even a few pictures of her with a much younger Severus Snape in his quarters helping her with her homework. Finally Severus got to the wedding pictures and Bronwyn smiled at the pictures of her mother and father dancing and laughing.

Looking at Severus she said, "Did – you like my father?"

Severus smiled at her. "Yes I did. I didn't know him very well but he loved your mother very much and that was all that counted."

Bronwyn was very quiet. "Did – they – tell you – about me? That there was something – wrong with me?"

He scooped her into his lap, holding her close. "Bronwyn, there is nothing wrong with you you just do things in a different way. That doesn't make them wrong."

She was crying and shaking in his arms. "Then why do people point and laugh when I tried to talk or do something and can't? It's not right!"

"No it isn't," he said. "Those people are ignorant and don't know any better so they are not worth worrying about."

Tillie popped in with a cup of hot cocoa and Severus added a little Calming Draft. Bronwyn drank it and slowly began to relax. Severus's heart broke for the little girl who had to grow up so fast. The surgery was the next day and Severus was determined that it go well and she healed quickly. As Bronwyn drifted off to sleep, he carried her upstairs and put her to bed telling Tillie to watch her and call if she needed anything.

The next morning was the day of the surgery. Severus woke early, showered and got ready for the day. Since Bronwyn hadn't had had no food or water since midnight he went into her room to help Tillie get her ready for the day. She wore a loose pair of violet pants and a white long-sleeved shirt with violets on it. She looked very pale and nervous so Severus assured her he would be with her the whole time and stay with her when she woke up. Healer Morris had said she could come home later that day if the surgery went well. As he scooped her up in his arms, she said "Can Harry and Hermione visit me when I come home?"

The last thing Severus wanted were the two Gryffindor's right after the surgery. "Let's see What Healer Morris says about that. After he says you can have visitors we can invite them." Bronwyn seems satisfied and smiled. They walked to the Floo at and Severus threw down the powder and said, "St. Mungo's children's ward."

The next thing they knew they were in a brightly colored hallway and a pretty young nurse came up to them saying, "You must be Professor Snape and Bronwyn. Healer Morris is waiting for you. Follow me please."

She walked through a set of doors where Healer Morris was waiting. "Good morning Bronwyn and Severus!" He said cheerfully. "Are you ready for me?"

Bronwyn buried her head Severus's velvet robes. "Gavin, Severus said. "May I stay with her? She's a little nervous."

"Of course. You've taken some basic Healers courses so this won't be entirely foreign to you. And Bronwyn will certainly be more relaxed if you were here."

Bronwyn looked up at Gavin as if trying to decide whether to trust him. Gavin smiled at her saying, "Would you like your uncle to stay and help?"

She gave him a small smile and nodded. Gavin sterilized himself Severus and the table as well as putting on gloves and a mask. Severus laid her gently on the table and Gavin had him give her a vial of Children's Dreamless Sleep. He quickly and carefully made the necessary cuts in her groin, cutting and reattaching the tendons so that she wouldn't scissor with her legs anymore. He then put a clear binding cast on her legs and told Severus that they could be removed after three days. He also gave her a very strong Muscle Relaxing Salve and gave Severus the recipe so that he could brew it as needed.

While they were waiting for her to wake up. Severus asked Gavin if his two students could come visit Bronwyn after the casts were removed.

"Are these the students you are thinking of getting to help you at Hogwarts?" his friend asked.

Severus sighed. "Yes" he said. Gavin chuckled. "You don't seem thrilled at the prospect my friend."

"Not really" Severus admitted "however we met them last week at Diagon Alley and they seemed willing to help."

Gavin smiled at his friend. "Well let's see what happens in three days and then we can make a decision about your students." As he spoke he levitated Bronwyn onto a stretcher and moved her to a private room with a bed for Severus. His friend raised an eyebrow questioningly and Gavin said, "I knew you wouldn't want to leave her so you might as well be comfortable. I at least want her to stay tonight so I can check that the anesthetic has worn off properly and then you can take her home. Just call for the nurse if you need anything. Her name is Judy and she will be here until midnight."

He left the room and Severus transfigured his robes into black sleep pajamas and Bronwyn's clothes into her white flowered nightgown. He also handed Her Shimmer and sat on his bed watching her sleep.

Well friends I'm back! Sorry it's taken so long but I have had a very trying summer. I hope to get things back on track now. I wanted to finish the surgery chapter today and maybe Harry and Hermione's visit tomorrow. Hope everyone has had a good summer and I will be updating soon!