Snake And Wolf: The Finding

I hope you have as much fun reading this as I have writing it.

Snake and Wolf: The Finding

Chapter 3

* * * * *

Severus sat in the Hospital Wing beside the bed that held his sister’s still form. She had been asleep ever since she had fainted on him in Hagrid’s cabin. And that was two hours ago.

Madam Pomfrey looked up from a book she was reading at her desk at him and frowned. He ignored her.

The doors gave a little creak as someone entered the room.

“Severus.”

Severus turned and saw Dumbledore standing there. Rubbing at his eyes he said, “Yes?”

Dumbledore walked slowly over to him and said softly, “You should get some sleep.”

“I’m not leaving her.”

“Don’t forget to take care of yourself as well as her Severus.”

Severus waved a hand and said, “I’ll be fine.”

Dumbledore sighed and patted Snape’s shoulder before leaving.

Severus leaned his arms on the side of his sister’s bed and laid his head down on them. He would get some rest.

But he wasn’t about to leave his sister’s side.

* * * * *

CRASH!

Severus woke up with a start as something fell on the floor. Looking around he saw Peeves hovering upside down above the wreckage of what used to be a hospital bed. He was just about to do something about that when Madam Pomfrey came in.

“PEEVES!”

The poltergeist cackled and zoomed off, leaving Madam Pomfrey to yell after him. She glared at Snape then pulled out her wand and set about to fixing the hospital bed.

“Uhn…”

Severus turned around quickly as a moan came from the figure in the bed beside him.

Black eyes blinked open and looked up into his.

For a moment there was silence then a quavering voice said, “S-s-s-s-Sev?”

Smiling, he nodded.

“Hello little sister.”

* * * * *

An hour or so later Severus stood outside the Hospital Wing. He paced back and forth, throwing occasional glares at the closed doors.

Madam Pomfrey had thrown him out after Saerry had woken up, insisting that she had to make sure she was all right.

Severus sneered at that and thought, Of course she’s not all right. I knew that. Fifteen years in the Forbidden Forest and no one would be all right.

Suddenly his thoughts were broken into as the doors opened.

And out stepped Madam Pomfrey, followed by tall, skinny woman wearing a dark red robe, shoulder length black hair curling about her shoulders.

Severus halted in his tracks and stared.

“Saerry?”

Saerry nodded and brushed a stray lock of hair off her face. Rather sheepishly she replied, “Yes.”

Severus smiled and said, “You look….Merlin’s beard, you look like an angel.”

“Thank you.”

Madam Pomfrey stared at him as Severus cautiously wrapped an arm about Saerry’s shoulders. Saerry jumped slightly but relaxed after a moment. Both of them walked off, leaving Madam Pomfrey to stare after them.

* * * * *

Severus led Saerry to his room, both of them silent as they went. As soon as they were at the staff quarter’s entrance he glared at the portrait that faced him.

The portrait shifted to life and its inhabitant, a stone-faced wizard, grumbled, “Password?”

Severus replied, “Phoenix,” and the portrait swung open, causing Saerry to jump. He smiled at her and squeezed her shoulders, softly saying, “S’alright. Its just a picture.”

The stone-faced wizard snorted and growled, “Are you going to go inside or just stand in my door all day?” Severus thumped the back of the portrait and snarled, “If I want to stand in your door all day I’ll stand in your door all day. Now shut up and leave us alone.”

The wizard grumbled something ineligible and fell silent. Saerry looked suspiciously at the portrait then asked, “Is that like…”

“Yea.” Severus nodded. “Just like the portrait on the third floor at the manor.” He glared at the portrait and added, “Only more grumpy.”

The portrait swung backwards, almost hitting them, but Severus grabbed the edge, holding the door open. He pushed Saerry inside and thumped the portrait across the back hard as he slipped inside after her.

As the portrait slammed closed and the stone-faced wizard grumbled about missing him, Severus smiled and said, “Exactly like the portrait on the third floor.”

Saerry nodded and gave a faint smile. Suddenly she hugged him tightly, burying her face into his shoulder. He stood motionless for a moment then slowly wrapped his arms around her.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

Saerry sniffled then looked up at him. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she sobbed, “I never thought I’d see you again. I-I thought you were in the manor wh-when it burned.”

Severus frowned and brushed a hand over her cheek. He whispered, “I thought you were inside too. By Merlin, I should have known you weren’t.”

Saerry leaned her head against his shoulder and mumbled, “You couldn’t have known Sev.”

“I should have. Saer…”

The only response to him was a soft snore. He smiled and slowly twisted her around, slipping one arm down and pulling her up into his arms. Shifting his grip slightly, he walked down the hall to his room. As he passed McGonagall’s room she looked out and stared at him.

“Severus, what are you doing?”

Turning, Severus replied, “Going to my room.”

McGonagall blinked and looked at Saerry then asked, “I see.”

Severus glared at her and strode on past. As he came to his door he stood for a moment, wondering how to get the door open with his hands and arms full of Saerry. Then he remembered something Macnair had done during a Death Eater raid when they couldn’t get a door open with their wands.

Moving back he kicked at the door as hard as he could. It slammed open, causing McGonagall, Sinistra, and Flitwick to stare down the hall from their rooms at him. Ignoring them he went inside, kicking the door shut.

Walking into his bedroom he laid Saerry down on the bed, pulling the dark green covers up over her shoulders. She curled up under the blankets, giving a soft little sigh when she stopped moving

A smile curved at Severus’ lips, causing the muscles in his face to twitch slightly. It had been years since he had truly smiled.

As he turned to leave the room he paused in the doorway, one hand on the doorknob, and looked back at his sister. With Saerry back things would be different. Or at least some things would.

Finally letting the smile break through, he closed the door and settled on the couch to sleep.