Chapter 37:

Healing Reactions

Jessa walked through the busy corridors, struggling with her bag. Having an injured wrist – especially her dominant wrist, was really making things difficult for her. Her bag was starting to wear, and the extra books weren't helping. She was struggling to keep steady now that she was down the use of one hand, particularly on the uneven tiles of Hogwarts castle.

Suddenly, someone bumped into her, sending her sprawling, and causing books to fall from her bag, one book's corner ripping a seam. The rest of the bag's contents fell onto the ground. She just barely kept herself from crying out as she cradled her wrist close to her body as the pain from stopping her fall set in.

"Jessa?" a pair of familiar voices chorused.

Blinking, she adjusted her glasses and looked up to see Fred and George in front of her; she knew then that this incident was indeed an accident.

"We didn't mean to – "

" – what happened?" Fred asked, interrupting his brother as he caught sight of the dark brace.

"It's nothing," she answered hurriedly, kneeling to begin gathering her belongings. George leaned over, magically mending her bag; she smiled gratefully at him. It was a spell she should probably learn for herself.

"Does Harry know?"

She just shook her head, continuing with her task.

"We can help you bring your bag wherever you were going…"

"…but we really think you should tell him."

"You can't. I mean – I was going to my common room. And it's nothing, really. He's busy preparing for the final task."

"He'd still want to know you're hurt…"

"…bad enough to need a brace, no less."

Jessa sighed, brushing a few stray stands of hair from her face. She knew they meant well, that they saw her as a second sister; she appreciated it. Slowly, she nodded. They helped her to her feet carefully. George shouldered her heavy bag with ease as Fred started guiding her towards the Great Hall, keeping his body on guard near her injured side just in case.

They sat her at the Gryffindor table – which Jessa wasn't entirely sure wouldn't get her in trouble – and took a protective seat on each side of her. The Great Hall was slowly filling for dinner and it didn't take long before Harry, Ron, and Hermione joined them, all three looking surprised to see her at their house table.

"Did something happen?"

Fred nudged her gently to show him and Jessa brought her braced wrist onto the table.

"What happened? How bad is it?"

"I fell. I've had worse, you know that," she said, desperately trying to minimize the attention she was receiving over this, to not cause a bigger scene.

"Worse than that?" a familiar voice asked in shock from behind her. Even if she hadn't recognized her boyfriend's voice, there was no mistaking the way those around her tensed.

"Puecy said you fell because someone pushed you. Is that true?"

Shakily, she nodded, refusing to meet anyone's gaze now.

"Do you know who it was?" Harry asked.

She shook her head. "No. Though I doubt they were Slytherin.

"Don't think one of your own house could be so mean?"

"Ron!" George said sharply in warning, even though he privately agreed.

Jessa's eyes flashed as she looked directly at him. "When the person pushed me, they called me a 'Traitorous Slytherin'. I don't think someone in my own house would have chosen that particular insult, do you?"

She moved to get up, and they let her. Draco grabbed her bag without a word as she stormed off, following her out of the Great Hall and away from the table of noble idiots.

She was slowly healing, thanks to Professor Snape's monitoring of her injury and immediate attention. Fred and George had clearly informed their own sister of Jessa's injury, because Ginny made sure to help her where she could in classes. Between her and Taryn, Jessa was managing in her classes even with the injury to her dominant hand…her wand hand.

She was trying to write – rather sloppily, she might add – with the brace on when someone sat down in the chair next to her. Glancing up, she was surprised to see it was Adrian who had joined her.

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine, I suppose, apart from the obvious."

"Do you want some help? With your work or magic practice, I mean?"

"Your sister is helping me with most assignments, and I can't do much magic at the moment. I can barely hold a wand," she explained.

"When your wrist heals, then, would you like practice? Help to catch up with what you can't practice now?"

"You'd do that? Help me like that?"

He nodded seriously, before leaning in and lowering his voice. "Just saying now – I'll definitely help you with strengthening your wrist. We need you back next year as our Quidditch substitute. You're the only competent one we've ever had, let alone one who's better than some of the official players. I am not losing the Cup my last year here."

This caused her to smile genuinely and even laugh a bit. "Yes. Absolutely. Thank you, Adrian."

Jessa Lily Potter sighed as she made her way down to the dungeon classrooms. It had been two weeks since she had first injured her wrist. She still didn't know who had pushed and insulted her, but at this point, she wasn't quite sure if she cared anymore. She was just ready to be healed and move on from it. Why everyone else was making such a big deal of her injury, she didn't know, nor could she understand it…or take it for much longer for that matter. To say it was grating on her nerves was an understatement.

Arriving at Professor Snape's office door, she took her uninjured left hand and raising it, the young witch knocked softly on the ajar door. Indistinct voices inside stopped and the door suddenly flew open. Jessa looked up, startled, as Durmstrang's Headmaster stared down at her. Jessa took a step back as he went to speak.

"What did you hear, girl?"

"Nothing, sir! I just got here!"

"Liar! What do you know about – "

Just then, Professor Snape appeared in the doorway upon hearing the commotion.

"Igor – don't you have somewhere you have to be?" he said curtly.

"This girl heard – "

" – nothing but the soft murmur of our voices. Am I correct, Miss Potter?" Snape interrupted smoothly. Karkaroff's eyes widened at her name as she nodded.

"Correct, Professor."

"Potter? What – "

"Well then; no harm done. Good-bye, Igor," Snape finished off curtly, glaring at the other man, who swiftly left, but not before staring a moment longer at Jessa – something which infuriated Severus. It would seem as though he would now have to keep an even closer eye on the Death Eater.

"I'm sorry for interrupting, Professor."

"No need, we were just about finished. Now come in Miss Potter," he directed, his gaze softening as he shut the door behind her.

"How has your wrist been feeling?"

"Fine, sir."

"Miss Potter, do not lie to me," he said as the two Slytherins took their seats around the desk.

"It still hurts, sir, but I can handle it," she replied as he carefully slid the brace off her wrist, causing her to wince; something her observant Professor did not miss. The man then cast another diagnostic spell.

"The fractures are healing well; the bruise is almost entirely healed. I'm going to cast a second healing spell now."

"Thank you, sir."

Focusing, Snape cast the spell before gently slipping the brace back onto her still-swollen wrist, noting her wince once again.

"I will be right back," he announced, disappearing into the storage room.

Jessa took the moment to look around the dark room. Suddenly, something is the corner caught her attention. Moving towards it, the witch bent down to gain a closer look. The drawer was partially open, and she could see something bright illuminated in the dark space.

"Miss Potter, what do you think you're doing?" a stern voice asked from behind her.

She turned quickly. "I – I was simply curious sir. I saw a flash of white and – "

"Sit back down," he interrupted, placing a box with various vials and small pouches on the desk.

Jessa hurriedly obeyed, head bowed slightly. She didn't know what her punishment would be, but she could only hope that Snape would be more lenient then the Dursleys would have been had she been caught snooping at their house.

"Miss Potter, please pay attention," the Potions Master directed, gesturing to the box.

"Each morning, take a yellow leaf, crush it, and put it into a vial with a brown stopper. Wait until the potion turns light blue. Then you may drink it. Each night, take a green leaf, cut it into four pieces and put the pieces into a vial with a black stopper. Once the liquid is a dark blue, you may drink it. Am I clear?"

"Yes sir. A crushed yellow leaf into a brown–topped vial. It will turn light blue, and then I will drink it in the morning. A cut green leaf is to be placed into a black–topped vial each night. It will turn dark blue before I may drink it."

"Correct," Snape replied, internally smiling at the young girl. Just like her mother, she seemed to have an aptitude for Potions.

"Sir? What are they for?" she questioned hesitantly.

"They're pain and bone-strengthening potions to help with your healing. The night one also contains a mild sleeping draft within it."

"You're – you're still going to help me? But I went looking through your private things!"

Shocked, Severus sat, leaning against the desk. "Jessa, I am not going to hurt you. You found nothing. Just do not go through my personal effects again."

"Of – of course, sir."

"See me again next Saturday night," he instructed, before tapping his wand to reduce the size and weight of the medicine box until she reached her dormitory room.

"Yes Professor. Thank you," she said beginning to leave, when she stopped and turned back to him. "Professor? Could you tell me about my mother now?"

Severus froze for a moment. "Next time. You have class tomorrow," he said, hoping she would agree.

She nodded. "Good night, Professor," she bade him, before leaving.

Severus Snape sighed; the more she trusted him, the harder this was becoming. How was he ever going to do this?

After double checking the office door was locked, he moved towards the cabinet she had almost seen into, revealing a perfectly preserved lily.

I am so incredibly sorry for the long delay in chapters. The past 8 months have been a whirlwind. Since my last update, I've been in chemo – and it took its toll. However, I am pleased to say I am cancer-free (though still in treatment) and I'm moving onto a new job!

Until next time - Leanora