The Sleepers Awake

Chapter 7: The Making of Severus Snape

Outwardly Professor McGonagall recovered herself; but deep inside she was reeling. "No, it can't be; it can't," she thought. She would leave that thought until she returned to Hogwarts. Answers were needed and only Albus had them. Minerva would say nothing to Severus about what was going through her mind; the situation was inflamed enough as it is.

She turned her attention back to Madame Pomfrey and the young woman once she heard the shower going. "How is she doing Poppy? What was it that Severus managed to do with that hex of his?" she asked.

The Mediwitch sighed heavily, "It looks like she already had an aneurysm of the brain and Severus ruptured it with the initial Neuro Hex; but he prevented her death by administering the Convulsion Healing Charm so quickly. A few more seconds...but, in a roundabout way he saved her life with his accident and the charm. That charm does more than just stop convulsions; but it depends on the person it's administered to and the person executing it."

Poppy pointed at Erszhebets forehead which was now minus the stitches. She had a flesh-coloured scar, a bit lighter than her normal skin tone, shaped like a crescent moon. Poppy's treatment had dissolved the stitches and speeded up the healing process. "I don't know how the wound happened, but those Muggle doctors were insane to cut her up as they did and then let her go walking around with an aneurysm. It's a wonder she didn't just drop dead! It's an outrage!" she said vehemently.

"Isn't that just typical of Severus? Agonising over something he actually had no control over that was not his fault and thinks the absolute worst but saves a life," said Professor McGonagall exasperatedly, shaking her head.

"But that hex, Poppy. This double life that he has had to lead; this is no good and that hex proves it," continued Professor McGonagall, "Severus is so unable to just live; even now after all that business is done with, he is just not allowed to live - still having to maintain ties with those people. It is not fair on him and it has got to stop. It's no wonder that this just happened."

"Minerva, I have had that argument with the Headmaster more times than I can count," replied Madame Pomfrey. "I know, I know; we supposedly could not have achieved what we have without Severus and the risks that he took living a double life. But the price was too high! Severus deserves a chance at a 'normal' life now and to find out who he really is and what he wants. Albus has never allowed him to discover who he really is and just let him be. The Order be hanged; at the end of the day the Headmaster is only thinking of himself and what he thinks the Order needs. We all know Severus wants to be respected, that part of him does want to be admired despite his protests to the contrary. Deep down I think he wants to be accepted as more than he has been allowed to be; as more than he sees himself. I believe this is what motivates Severus with the Order really - aside from the fact that he still wants to rectify the mistakes he made as a teenager. But Albus knows it; he of all people knows Severus better than Severus knows himself. If you ask me the Headmaster is taking liberties that ought not to be taken!" Poppy slapped her hand on the bed a few times as she emphasised her point.

Professor McGonagall looked stricken as she flicked her wand to tidy up the bedroom and charm Severus' discarded clothes from the night before clean and fresh while stacking them in a neat pile on the chaise lounge. There was something to be said for having house elves, she thought fleetingly.

"I'm sorry Minerva; it wasn't right for me to put that on you," Madame Pomfrey was well aware of the relationship between the Headmaster and his Headmistress.

"No, Poppy; you are right," replied Minerva wearily. "I have spent many a night arguing with Albus myself. But will he listen? No. He forgets that not everyone is like him. I have said it once if I have said it a hundred times; the Headmaster miscalculates the limitations and the needs of those closest to him. Severus has had to live a lie his whole life at a great personal cost. Few of us have ever really let him forget his mistake and fewer still have allowed him absolution. The Order is proof of that; Severus having to carry on like this for so long just because it suits Albus!"

"It just wasn't right for Albus to send that note and just be so dismissive of Severus - if anything it shows just how much Albus really misjudges the situation on a personal level; for everything thing he gets right he does make some crucial errors," said Poppy.

Minerva nodded in agreement as she flicked her wand to replace the soiled bedclothes. "He may be a formidable Wizard, but he is still a man and as such has flaws like everyone else. I just think sometimes that the Headmaster is a bit too blithe in his acceptance of those faults. Albus made the same mistake with Harry Potter in his fifth year," she said firmly, "He should have just been honest with Potter; talked to him, not kept him in the dark. But no, Albus waited until it was too late. Potter's fifth year - that was Judgment Day for all of us in more ways than one."

Madame Pomfrey sighed wearily, "The Headmaster made some of the biggest mistakes of his life that year if you ask me. I am sorry Minerva, but it has got to be said. Some things could have been - well, different. I wish they had been. Potter might not be so bitter now. He blames Severus for everything and it is not Severus' fault! Merlin's Beard Minerva; Harry Potter would be dead now if it weren't for Severus. I care tremendously for Potter, don't get me wrong; but Potter should be grateful and should stop trying to make Severus' life even more miserable than it already is."

Professor McGonagall sighed, "I agree Poppy; you know I do of all people. I have tried - Gods how I have tried to talk to Potter. I have tried and I have tried to get it into that thick skull of his that whatever may have happened in the classroom, Severus has always tried to help him, to protect him. I often wonder what Severus' life had would have been like had he been encouraged and allowed to be a different type of person. And for everything I think I know; I know that there is much about him as a man that I still do not know. You know Severus; never says a word about his family or his childhood before Hogwarts. He does not say much about his school days either, come to think of it; though the odd rumour has reached me now and again."

"Severus doesn't know who he is really himself," said Poppy. "How can anyone really know him if he doesn't know himself?" she asked. "What would any of us be like if we had to live as Severus has for all these years?"

Minerva looked at the young woman who appeared to be asleep.

"I think he is just beginning to Poppy," said Professor McGonagall. "I will tell you one thing; I do believe in all sincerity that Severus Snape is a good man at heart and I for one am glad that he finally has someone in his life that will let him be that man. Severus has to let himself be that man with her. He has his faults as do we all and Gods the man has tried my patience more often than he hasn't; but I care about him like a son. I am not just compensating for the child I never had. I am not his mother, but I often think he could do with one. It could not have been easy, losing his mother as such a young age...and his father; well the less said about that the better. Severus has not had an easy life - ever."

"Too easy for Potter to be on his high horse if you ask me," said Poppy letting the thought which had entered her mind leave it just as suddenly, "At the end of the day he is always the hero regardless of help from anyone else. A lot of people lost their lives trying to protect him, trying to help him; that Granger girl for one. Tragic loss that one; good mind that girl had - what she might have achieved with her life is anybody's guess. Scores of innocents lost their lives in the war. Maybe one day Potter will finally grow up and at least give Severus the credit he is due - of course if Ronald Weasley has anything to say about it Potter won't."

"Potter could make a huge difference now and he knows it," continued Poppy. "He won't just out of spite and these childish grudges. Potter can be a self-righteous vindictive little bastard just like his father was sometimes and he acts like no one else has ever suffered as much as he thinks he has. Weasley doesn't help - he always was rather childish if you ask me and he has not changed. They both need to grow up - Granger was right about that."

Minerva could not hide her shock and dismay. Few in the Wizarding world who were not Dark Wizards ever spoke about James Potter or his famous offspring in a tone that was less than - reverential.

It also pained her to recall Hermione Granger who, despite having an insufferable know-it-all and rather bossy attitude that only grew in magnitude as she got older, had been one of her favourite students in Gryffindor House and her classroom. Hermione's heart had always been in the right place even if the execution was rather amiss; Miss Granger could be quite pretentious sometimes. Professor McGonagall still loved her though in spite of her faults just as she did Potter and Severus despite theirs.

"You will have to ask Severus," said Madame Pomfrey matter-of-factly, "or Lupin. He can put you right on a few facts."

Professor McGonagall sighed, "Oh I think I know some of it at least," she said quietly. "Lupin and I have had some interesting talks recently. To be honest I think he is the only person who might have any influence with Potter these days, aside from Weasley." Remus Lupin was someone else that Minerva cared greatly about and grown protective of over the years. It had not always been this way. Lupin was afflicted in his own way, being a werewolf. His kind were had not been accepted in the Wizarding world; despite the great strides taken during and after the last war there were still changes which needed to be made on a larger social scale.

Madame Pomfrey regarded her charge who appeared to be resting peacefully, "Minerva if this is what I think it is, given what we have seen so far, this young woman just may be the making of Severus Snape."

"Why don't we help them get things organized," said Professor McGonagall taking a lighter tone. The situation was tense enough without so much seriousness. Besides, she had no doubt that it would get a lot more serious once they all sat down to talk. "I think they could do with the help since we are here."

"I imagine Severus will not be maintaining separate quarters," she added matter-of-factly.

Madame Pomfrey tried to keep a straight face - but wbright red instead and tried not to giggle. She failed miserably.

"Get a hold of yourself, Poppy," chided Professor McGonagall as she chuckled herself while crossing over to the other door in the room and opened it as she did not see any wardrobes or chests of drawers in this one.

Minerva gasped as opened the door and discovered Erszhebets dressing room - especially her shoes. Even in the Wizarding world there were women who loved their shoes. Minerva McGonagall was one of them. 'Manolo Blahnik' 'Jimmy Choo', 'Prada', she read aloud looking at several racks of dress shoes. "Not bad for Muggle shoes," she thought as she resisted the temptation to sit down and try them on.

"Poppy, you need to see this," she called to her best friend as she eyed Erszhebets wardrobe beadily.

Minerva spotted some empty clothes racks and checked the drawers underneath as Poppy came in and 'oo'ed and 'ah'ed over Erszhebets clothes. The drawers beneath them were also empty.

Poppy was quite the clothes horse herself in her private life and was fascinated by the Muggle garments, particularly the couture. There was an eye-catching colourful Vivienne Westwood she would love to get her hands on.

"Locomotor Trunks," said Minerva as she stepped out into the bedroom. The Professor guided in his clothes trunks and luggage and partially closed the door - leaving it open just a crack. With a number of waves of her wand she unpacked Severus' 'off-the-rack' clothes. There was space for his luggage as well in the vast room. "Where is a good house-elf when you need one," she muttered under her breath as she completed her task.

Severus was now moved in.

[[[]]]

The two friends were not to know that as they explored every inch of the Dressing Room; including the Styling area where Erszhebet did her hair and makeup, that their charge opened her eyes and waited quietly.

Erszhebet was completely aware of what had been said. She lay quietly, and contemplated all that she had heard.

"We are alike in many ways he and I," she thought to herself. "But Jean-Hughes; I had Jean-Hughes. He came into my life and my life was better for it. I am who I am because of him as much as anything else. Severus has had no one like that it seems; perhaps by fate, perhaps by personal choice."

But Erszhebet was angry in spite of herself. After all that had happened between them, including the intense level of intimacy which they had already shared, she expected that Severus at least trusted her. Her previous assessment that neither their friendship nor their relationship would be easy was an understatement. His mistrust had almost killed her.

[[[]]]

Unsure of herself, Erszheet debated whether or not to go into the bathroom or stay where she was. This was a lot to take in, even for her. A Wizard and two bona-fide Witches from the Wizarding world in her apartment. Severus had not given her the chance to explain; but explain she would; and Erszhebet would demand explanations in return. One of the women did say that they all needed to talk - well, talk they would.

Her mind raced over the details of the conversation she had overheard. "Lupin," she thought as she eyed the candles of love on the nightstand facing her. "No, I am sure there are plenty of Lupins in that world."