Ilvermorny, Healing Wing

"Ma, I'm fine. You don't need to hover," Severus said, trying to sound more assured than he felt.

"Don't talk back to me, boy. You were just in another coma, and you have no right," she shot back, her voice firm but laced with concern.

Severus sighed, surrendering to her gentle touch as she brushed his hair back. It had been a whole week since he'd woken up, yet he hadn't experienced a single moment of solitude. Every second was filled with someone hovering over him. Bellatrix, in particular, seemed determined to smother him with affection, covering his face in kisses that left behind an absurd amount of lipstick.

Rocky would sit by his bedside, flipping through various books, his voice a comforting murmur as he caught up on everything happening in Philadelphia. Even Bruce made sure to pop in, his usual bravado softened into a concerned vigilance, always checking in on him.

"You're all too much," Severus muttered, a small smile breaking through despite the chaos. "I didn't think coming back would feel like being trapped in a soap opera."

His mother paused, her hand stilling in his hair. "You're lucky to have people who care about you, Severus," she said softly, her expression shifting to one of tenderness. "Just try to let them help you."

He nodded, his attention shifting to Bellatrix as she just walked in, a vibrant whirlwind of energy. Her hair fell in tousled waves around her shoulders, and the moment she spotted him, her face broke into a beaming smile that lit up the room.

"Sev!" she exclaimed, rushing to his side. Before he could say anything, she leaned over him, her lips crashing against his in an enthusiastic kiss. He felt the weight of her presence wash over him, and for a brief moment, the chaos of his recovery faded away.

"Easy there, love," he managed, pulling back slightly, though he couldn't hide the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I'm still trying to recover."

Bellatrix huffed playfully, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You act like I'm the one who knocked you out," she teased, settling into the chair beside his bed. "Besides, I can't help it if I'm excited to see you back. The world is dull without you, you know."

As she began chatting animatedly about the latest happenings at school, his mind wandered. He remembered the darkness, the weight of his own despair, and the feeling of being trapped in an abyss where every voice echoed his deepest insecurities. But here, in this moment with Bellatrix, everything felt different.

"You're too good for me, Bella," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Her expression shifted, the playful glint in her eyes giving way to something deeper. "Don't you dare say that," she replied fiercely, leaning forward. "You're everything to me, Severus. I don't care about the darkness or any of that. We'll fight through it together."

He could see the sincerity in her eyes, the fierce determination that matched his own buried resolve. The warmth spreading through his chest felt real, something tangible to hold onto as he faced the uncertainties ahead. He took a deep breath, grateful for her presence, and the hope she brought with her.

"Okay," he replied, meeting her gaze. "Together."

"Together," she echoed, her smile returning. "Now, let's get you some food. You can't recover on kisses alone, no matter how sweet I am."

As she stood to fetch something from the cart, he felt his mother's eyes on him as she packed up her purse. "She's a good one, Severus. Don't fuck this up," she said, her tone a mix of motherly concern and fierce encouragement.

He watched as she pressed a kiss to his forehead, her warmth lingering even after she pulled away. With a final glance back at him, she headed out through the pale double doors, leaving him with the comforting presence of Bellatrix.

"Your mom seems pretty intense," Bellatrix said, returning with a tray of food. She raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "But I like her. She cares about you."

"Yeah, she does," he replied, running a hand through his hair. "Sometimes it feels like she cares too much."

Bellatrix chuckled, setting the tray down beside him. "That's what moms do, Sev. They worry. It means they love you. Just like I do."

He looked at her, the lightness in her voice bringing a small smile to his lips. "You're right, as usual."

"Damn right I am," she grinned, grabbing a spoon and scooping some mashed potatoes. "Now eat, or I'll be forced to feed you myself, and nobody wants that."

"Is that a threat?" he teased, raising an eyebrow as he took the spoon from her and started eating.

"More like a promise," she shot back, her laughter ringing through the room, a sound he found immensely comforting.

As he savored the food, Bellatrix launched into an animated story about the chaos that had ensued during his absence. The way she described the antics of their classmates made him feel a little more connected to the world outside his hospital room, and he found himself laughing more than he had in weeks.

"...and then Regulus tried to use a charm to get the cake to fly, but instead it landed right on Lucius's head! You should have seen him screaming about his poor hair!" she exclaimed, her hands gesturing wildly.

"Sounds like I missed quite the show," Severus said, shaking his head, trying to imagine the scene.

"You did! But it's not the same without you there to enjoy it. Honestly, you need to get better soon. I need my boyfriend," she said, her voice dipping slightly, the weight of the situation creeping back in.

He put down the spoon, his expression growing serious. "I will, Bella. I promise. I'll fight for us."

Bellatrix reached out, her hand covering his. "You don't have to promise me anything. Just focus on getting better. We'll face whatever comes next together, alright?"

"Alright," he replied, squeezing her hand, the connection grounding him. Leaning in, he gave her a final kiss on the lips, a lingering moment that seemed to stretch on forever. The taste of her, sweet and familiar, filled him with both warmth and a sense of longing. As she pulled back, he felt the weight of their separation settling in.

"This is the last time I'll see you until summer," he said, his voice tinged with sadness. Two months felt like an eternity, and he couldn't shake the feeling that each passing day would only amplify the distance between them.

Bellatrix's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she managed a brave smile. "We'll make it work. Just promise me you'll take care of yourself, okay? No more stupid fights or pushing yourself too hard."

He chuckled softly, grateful for her concern. "I promise, Bella. I'll be on my best behavior."

"Good," she replied, her smile widening as he tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "I'll hold you to that."

With one last lingering glance, she turned to leave, but not before he caught the flicker of something in her eyes—a determination to stay connected despite the distance. As she walked away, the ache of her absence settled deep within him, a bittersweet reminder of how much he valued her presence in his life.

Severus leaned back against the pillows, the room feeling emptier without her. The gentle beeping of the machines around him filled the silence, but it felt oddly hollow. He closed his eyes, hoping that the memory of her kiss would linger long enough to carry him through the days ahead.

He closed his eyes, slowly starting to enjoy the pleasure of being alone in a while when he suddenly felt four small paws walking all over him...wait, walking? paws? He quickly opened his eyes as he started up and the cat looked down at him, its collar shining in the sunlight from the window.

"Wh-...Hello, Ms. CuddleCakes." He sighed as the cat raised its paw and swatted his face. Severus chuckled despite himself, reaching out to gently scratch behind Ms. CuddleCakes's ears. "You always know how to make an entrance, don't you?"

The fluffy tabby purred contentedly, settling down on his chest as if claiming her rightful spot. Her presence was a welcome distraction from the heaviness in his heart, the way she curled up against him bringing a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos.

"Have you come to keep me company?" he asked, his voice softer now. "If you're here, then your owner shouldn't be too far behind, right?"

Ms. CuddleCakes ignored him, instead choosing to knead his shirt with her paws, purring louder. Severus felt a sense of peace wash over him as he absently played with her collar, the simple act grounding him in the present.

He looked over at the door, as if waiting to see a bundle of blond curls walk through, looking for her cat. "Do you know where Charity is, Ms. CuddleCakes?"

Severus sighed, leaning his head back against the pillow. The cat's weight, though small, felt grounding, as if tethering him to something in the absence of everyone else. He was tired—physically, emotionally, all of it. The quiet now felt too loud, too consuming. Bellatrix had left for Hogwarts, his mother was gone, and even the steady stream of visitors had thinned.

"Guess it's just you and me, huh?" he whispered to Ms. CuddleCakes, who stretched languidly, utterly unconcerned with anything but her own comfort.

A light knock on the door drew his attention, but before he could react, it slowly creaked open. His heart skipped a beat—was it Charity after all?

Instead, it was Bruce, his face pale, his usual confident swagger diminished. "Oi, Snape," Bruce muttered awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "Didn't expect to see you getting cozy with a bloody cat."

Severus offered a small smirk. "She's better company than most."

Bruce stepped in fully, awkwardly shifting from one foot to the other. "You look... better." He hesitated before sitting in the chair by the bed, his fingers drumming nervously on the armrest. "I mean, not like a corpse anymore."

"Thanks," Severus replied dryly, but there was no bite in his tone. It was nice, in a way, to have someone familiar, even if Bruce's awkward attempts at humor were... well, terrible.

"What are you hiding under your shirt? I heard it crinkling."

Bruce's eyes widened in mock surprise, his hand flying to his chest as if to shield whatever was tucked away. "What? Me? Hiding something? Never." His tone was dramatic, but Severus could see the guilt in his eyes.

"Bruce," Severus said, arching an eyebrow. "You're a terrible liar. Spill it."

With a groan, Bruce pulled a small, crumpled bag from under his shirt and tossed it onto the bed. Severus reached for it, and as soon as his fingers touched the paper, he knew exactly what it was.

"Muggle Fast Food?" Severus asked, a slight grin tugging at his lips.

Bruce shrugged. "You've been out for a while. Figured you'd want something decent to eat."

Severus chuckled, tearing open the bag. "Decent, huh? Don't tell me this is your idea of a gourmet meal."

Bruce feigned offense. "Hey, it's better than hospital food, isn't it? You should be thanking me."

"I'll save my thanks until I taste them," Severus said, taking a bite of the burger, the taste of grease and salt hitting his tongue. It wasn't gourmet by any stretch, but compared to the bland hospital meals, it might as well have been.

"Alright, fine," Severus admitted with a smirk. "It's better than the slop they've been giving me here."

Bruce grinned triumphantly. "Told you. Figured you needed something that didn't taste like cardboard."

Severus took another bite, savoring the simplicity of it. "How'd you even get this past the Healers?"

Bruce leaned in, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "I've got my ways. A little charm here, a little distraction there. No one's the wiser."

Severus shook his head, still chewing. "You're ridiculous."

Bruce laughed. "Maybe, but I know what my best friend needs."

Severus's expression softened at Bruce's words. Despite everything, despite the coma and the chaos that had followed, Bruce was still there—still looking out for him. "Thanks," he said quietly, his voice sincere this time.

Bruce waved it off, though his face betrayed a hint of emotion. "No need for that, mate. Just get better, alright?"

Severus nodded, taking another bite of the burger, feeling, for the first time in a while, like things might just start getting back to normal.

"Who's can even is that? cause it's stealing your fries." Severus glanced down to see Ms. CuddleCakes pawing at the fries, her fluffy tail swishing lazily behind her.

He groaned. "This cat is a menace."

Bruce snorted. "Looks like she's making herself comfortable. Maybe she's your new Healer."

"Great. Just what I need, a feline dietitian." Severus sighed, reaching to shoo the cat away, but Ms. CuddleCakes stared him down with defiance, keeping one paw on the fries.

"That's Charity's cat, isn't it?" Bruce asked, raising an eyebrow. "What's she doing here?"

Severus shrugged, still gently nudging the cat without much success. "I have no idea. Charity's probably around here somewhere, lost in the hallway looking for this cat, but I haven't seen her yet."

Bruce grinned. "Maybe Ms. CuddleCakes missed you. I mean, you did just wake up from a coma. She's probably here to check up on you."

Severus chuckled. "Wouldn't be the weirdest thing to happen lately."

Bruce watched as Ms. CuddleCakes finally stole a fry and trotted off with it. "You know," Bruce said, leaning back in his chair, "between your multiple comas, that cat, and this weird post-coma burger feast, I'd say you're living the high life now."

Severus just rolled his eyes, sinking further into the pillows. "If this is the high life, I'm really starting to question my life choices."

"Hey, at least you've got me," Bruce joked, giving him a playful nudge.

"And that," Severus said dryly, "is exactly the problem."