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 10

* * * * *

One hour later Saerry accompanied Harry, Hermione, and Ron to Potions, the class her brother taught. What surprised then all when they got there was the note on the door.

All Potions classes have been canceled for today.

Ron gave a whoop then smiled sheepishly as Hermione elbowed him and he remembered whose company he was in. Saerry smiled at him and said, “I know how hard it can be to deal with Severus sometimes.” She added, “Besides, students normally don’t like all of their teachers.”

Ron snorted and Hermione elbowed him again while Harry shook his head at his friend. He had perked up a little when Hermione had read the note on the door.

Saerry peered at the note then turned to the three.

“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go check on Severus. I’ve been worried about him since last night.”

Hermione asked, “What happened?”

Saerry smiled and replied, “A dream I think. Or a nightmare. He didn’t tell me what it was.”

She said her goodbyes to them then walked off down the hall.

Ron stared after her and said, “She’s strange.”

Hermione glared at him. “I think she’s nice.”

“That’s just it! She’s Snape’s sister! She’s not supposed to be nice!”

“So you want her to be evil?”

Ron’s ears turned red and he mumbled, “I never said that.”

Harry laughed at his two friends and said, “You practically did Ron.”

“I did not!”

Hermione smiled and said, “C’mon. Let’s go sit by the lake.”

The two boys nodded and the three walked out of the dungeons.

* * * * *

Saerry walked quickly away from the three Gryffindors, her long legs getting her to the portrait of the stone-faced wizard in half a minute. She coughed and wizard glared at her.

“Oh its you.”

“Yea.”

The wizard snorted and Saerry fixed him with a cold glare.

“Fine. Password?”

“Phoenix.”

The portrait swung open and she stepped through, thumping the portrait across the back as her brother had done. As it swung back into place, she heard the wizard grumbling something about getting her and Severus back for that one day. Shaking her head she walked quickly down to her brothers quarters and entered the room.

She saw him, still sprawled on the couch. He was asleep again but she could see him tossing and turning, his face wracked with pain. She could also see he was saying something but she couldn’t hear what it was.

Moving closer she listened hard and heard it.

“I’m sorry. By Merlin, I’m sorry Lily. Please forgive me.”

Saerry felt tears prick at her eyes. She hated to see her brother in so much pain. She started to move forward to wake him when the dream changed.

Severus rolled onto his back from his side and she could see the sheen of sweat on his pale skin. His breathing was harsh as he began to whisper the word “No” over and over again. Suddenly he sat up straight, eyes flashing open, and yelled, “LILY!” A second later he fell back onto the couch.

“SEVERUS!”

Saerry was instantly at her brother’s side. She saw his eyes, full of old pain that still hurt as if it was new, turn and focus on her face.

“Saer?”

“Shhh.” Saerry placed a finger over her brother’s lips to silence him and brushed a strand of his long black hair off his face. She smiled and whispered, “Go to sleep Severus.”

“No . . the dream . . .”

Saerry plucked a small bottle out of her robes. She had found in his Severus’ bedroom and had instantly recognized it for what it was as she had seen her brother take it a few times when she was little.

“Dreamless Sleep Potion.”

“No . .”

“Sev you have to sleep. Now drink this.”

Saerry pulled the stopper out of the bottle and forcefully opened her brother’s mouth. She let a little of the potion flow into his mouth then restoppered it and tucked it back into her robe.

She watched as Severus’ eyes fluttered closed and his breathing became normal. With a sigh she rose and turned to see Dumbledore standing in the doorway.

“Albus!”

Dumbledore smiled and walked over to her. He looked down at Severus and asked, “How is he?”

“He was having a nightmare. I gave some Dreamless Sleep Potion I found.” She looked at the old wizard and asked, “Do you know who Lily is?”

Dumbledore couldn’t hide the surprise in his eyes.

“Why do you ask?”

“He kept saying he was sorry. Then he yelled out her name just before he woke up.”

Dumbledore frowned. “Curious . .”

Saerry nodded.

“Mmm. But who’s Lily?”

Dumbledore sighed and looked at her. Behind his half-moon spectacles she could see his bright blue eyes were tired.

“Lily was Harry Potter’s mother. She and James, Harry’s father, were killed by Voldemort fifteen years ago.”

“The poor boy . . But, how did Severus know Lily?”

“They were in the same year at Hogwarts. Lily became friends with Severus despite the fact that her friends James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter did not like him.” Dumbledore looked at Severus then back at her. He continued, “He was devastated when she died. Almost as much when he thought you were dead.”

Saerry felt tears prick her eyes again as she looked down at her brother.

“He’s been through so much pain.”

Dumbledore laid a hand on her shoulder and said, “Perhaps you can help him with that.” He paused then added, “Come get me if he wakes up. I will wish to know what his dream was about.”

Saerry nodded and watched as the old wizard left the room. As soon as he was gone she turned back to her brother, watching him sleep peacefully for the first time since she had found him once again