Half a Life Without You
Chapter 6: Connection
Severus's POV:
I could not have stopped even if I wanted to. My steps quietly resound through the long corridor, each step taking me closer to her. She haunts me, unable to escape the urge to seek her out. I'm no longer the master over my emotions, all I feel is the need to see her, talk with her, be with her.
The doors to the infirmary are now in my view, anticipation radiates throughout my body causing my limbs to tingle. This desire to be with her overrides any reservations I may have about Potter and his little gang still being there. They wouldn't dare try anything with Madam Pomfrey and Everly there. I boldly walk forward stopping just outside the entryway when the sounds of laughter fill the air around me. I curiously move forward to see who is laughing only to shrink back swiftly into the shadows, she's there…with them.
Pangs of sadness and loss rip through me causing me to stagger under their weight. Loneliness is something I've grown to embrace over the years, my inability to share love with another accepted long ago. I know I should walk away from her, from them, from everything, but the pull is still there urging me forward. I watch her smile up at Black as he lightly bumps her shoulder while affectionately patting her hand.
Jealousy replaces my earlier feelings of sadness. I want nothing more than to storm through the doors and pull her away from Black and the others. I see red when I watch Black playfully tweak her nose, and I find the thought of ripping his arm off appealing. To think I regretted not killing the arsehole. She's supposed to be mine, but I know I'm being delusional, she's not mine and will never be mine. I turn away unable to bear the loss I feel, can't lose something you never had, I think sadly. I fall back further into the shadows and begin to turn away.
Then all thoughts of leaving are abandoned when I hear Lupin's concerned voice, "Everly, are you ok?"
No one notices me entering the room, all eyes are focused on her now pale face. "I think I just need to lay down for little bit" I hear her whisper as she begins to stand unsteadily. Black reaches out to stop her "Everly wait…", but he's too late and she drops to the floor.
I push the others out of my path and crash to my knees next to her, she screams and screams her face twisting into a grimace of pain. Her back arches and she begins convulsing against the hard floor. She stares at me unseeing, her eyes robbed of all their warmth. She's being consumed by the pain, her suffering splinters me inside.
Pure instinct drives me to lift her into my arms. I gasp when feel energy vibrate between us, she stops screaming and her body calms from violent shaking to only slight quivers. Cradling her gently within my arms I stand and start to carry her towards her bed.
A hand pulls my shoulder roughly turning me around, "What the hell do you think you're doing!? Give her to me!" Black snaps angrily at me.
Before I can answer a frazzled Madam Pomfrey races over, "Oh No! Severus hurry and carry her over to the bed."
I glance back at Black, he's hanging heavily against Potter unable to even stand on his own yet, I smirk because we both know there's nothing, he can do about it. My small victory is forgotten when Everly whimpers softly in my arms. I pull her closer and carry her over to the little bed where Madam Pomfrey is now waiting.
I set her down very gently and begin to release my hold on her, when she calls out, "No, don't leave me!" in a small, panicked voice. I instantly gather her back into my arms and wrap her tightly against me. "Stay" she whispers shakily. Wild centaurs couldn't take me from her side, "I've got you; I'm not going anywhere." I reassure her, my voice gruff with emotion.
"Thank… you" she whispers before going limp, her arms fall away to hang loosely at her sides. Panic rips through me like a knife to my stomach, until I feel the soft beating of her heart against my body assuring me, she's still alive. I breathe a sigh of relief against her hair and lean in close enough my lips brush against her ear, "don't you leave me, little one".
"Get your big nose away from her." I look up to see Black hobbling over with the assistance from Potter and Lupin, Pettigrew scampers behind them as usual. Once he's standing in front of me, he immediately reaches out trying to pull Everly from my arms.
"Try it and I'll break the other leg!" I snarl, completely enraged by his audacity. He flinches backward, staggering against a wide-eyed Lupin, while Potter steps forward menacingly.
"ENOUGH!" Madam Pomfrey thunders. "Mr. Potter please help Mr. Black back to his bed, and since the rest of you appear to be fully recovered you may return to your dormitories, I do NOT have time for such nonsense!" She emphasizes her point by placing her hand against Everly's pale clammy cheek.
Black leans down next to my ear, "This isn't over Snivellus." He whispers warningly before limping off with the others.
Madam Pomfrey suddenly waves her wand, "Expecto Patronum", a silvery white spark erupts from the tip taking the shape of a tiny chipmunk, "Professor Dumbledore I need you to come to the infirmary immediately, there's a situation with our visitor. Go on now deliver your message." She directs it sternly. It wastes no time bolting quickly from the room, off to deliver its message.
It doesn't take long before Dumbledore is hastily entering through the infirmary doors, his robes swishing noisily around his ankles, his fast pace creating little gust of wind causing his hair to sweep dramatically behind him as he walks to the end of Everly's bed.
He worriedly looks down into her colorless face, "what happened?" he questions looking between me and Madam Pomfrey. He listens intently as we explain, looking very intrigued by the connection I'm describing. "Curious, very curious" he mutters as I continue explaining what occurred up until I felt the first spark of energy surge through me.
"Are you experiencing any pain or discomfort from the connection?" he asks in return.
"No, it's not painful." I answer softly, my expression surely conveying I would still be holding her even if it were painful. I press her closer into my body as I feel the link between us continue to drum lightly.
"Do you know what's wrong with her?" I ask glancing up.
He breathes out a long sigh that is both resigned and fatigued, "only theories and old stories, and hardly from what I would call the most reliable source." I watch intently as his eyes grow distant as if recalling a long-ago memory, a flicker of sadness passes quickly before he continues in his whisper soft voice, "Velox Magicae Imperium, roughly translates to a rapid maturation of magical powers."
I can't help but scoff, "But that's just a…"
"a legend? Yes Mr. Snape I'm quite aware, but I've found over the years that even legends tend to be based on some small truths." He pauses staring down into Everly's pale face, "the truth. It is a beautiful and terrible thing and should therefore be treated with caution." His eyes now full of gentle concern find mine, "Which is why I must dig further into my research and discover what truths there are within the legends, and even within Everly herself."
I want to rage at him and demand to know something now, the legends I heard growing up were of the worst kind of monster, "Obscurus", the darkest magical power one could possibly imagine. I can't, I won't, believe the angel in my arms could become something so dark and dangerous.
My tumultuous thoughts are interrupted, "an Obscures is not the only possibility." I realize then I must have whispered the hated single word aloud in my horror. "There are…other possibilities."
My frustration over the situation finally spills over, and I explode, "What!? What are the other…possibilities?" My voice loudly booms through the room echoing off the high ceilings, earning a disapproving frown from Madam Pomfrey and an intrigued glare from Black, who has resorted to pouting from his bed at the other end of the infirmary. And of course, Dumbledore just fucking smiles at me, his eyes sparkling with humor.
Unfazed by my sudden outburst, he begins to explain, "there's another… lesser-known legend about a wizard who was stolen at birth and raised in a world without any magic. It says he found his way back to the world of magic causing his own to surge forth rapidly. With the help of a witch, he was able find balance during the worst of the abrupt onset of his powers. He was able to direct his excess magical energy into her, until the surge of power subsided within him, and balance returned to the wizard. The connection you are describing seems to confirm… this theory. I do believe she'll recover and in fact I believe you should begin to notice the connection starting to weaken as her body becomes balanced."
I frown as I listen to him go on about legends, how can someone be raised in a world without any magic, and why the fuck had I never heard this story before? He was right about the connection though; I do feel it fading. It's still all legends and theories though, what if it means she's getting worse not better.
"Severus…look at her. She's getting color back in her cheeks, breathing easier, and no longer grimacing with pain. She is getting better; we will see her recovered from this… I assure you." he promises me.
"Mr. Snape try letting her go, I want to see if she's recovered enough to rest on her own." Madam Pomfrey says stepping forward suddenly. I'm ready to protest, but I feel Dumbledore place a hand on my shoulder nodding his head. I reluctantly move away watching Everly closely for any hint of pain. When she continues resting peacefully, I'm relieved but also feel the loss of no longer having her within my arms.
"Come along Severus, Miss Quinn needs to rest, and I have some more research to review so I may keep my promise to you and see her recovered." Dumbledore says as he motions for me to come with him.
"Miss Quinn?" I ask stupidly.
"Yes, Miss Everly Quinn." He answers.
My eyes are drawn to the beautiful girl on the bed, now sleeping serenely. Since the moment I saw her, she has been a constant in my thoughts. I can't help wondering, how I can feel so much for someone I don't really know. In fact, I just learned her last name, which only emphasizes how little I know about her.
Madam Pomfrey noticed my hesitation, "Don't worry, I'll watch over her. I'll also be setting up wards to alert me immediately when she awakens or if there should be another incident. I'll notify you right away when she is well enough to receive visitors, or should she require any more of your assistance." She says reassuringly.
I'm reluctant to leave but nod my head in agreement. I turn toward Dumbledore and stare right into his light blue eyes; I'll be holding you to your promise…old man. A twinkle lights up his eyes at my silent words and inclines his head my way before I turn to exit.
I must unfortunately walk past a scowling Black on my way out, "She'll never choose you." He sneers cruelly. My steps faulter for a second, but not wanting to give him the satisfaction of a response I continue forward past him into the hall, letting the dark shadows envelope me.