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Waking up	By : Pegasus Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 2782 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the Harry Potter characters. I gain nothing from publishing this, no money, no fame, no fortunes.

Chapter List
- 17
- 18
- 19
Chapter 17
He had taken her home. Her parents had been overjoyed to see her, as had been expected. They did not quite believe she was healed, or so it seemed to Severus, but he knew they soon would when Sophie had fully recovered. For the moment they were just content to have her back with them. He hadn’t stayed long, he thought it was better to leave them time to themselves. Sophie had extracted herself from her parents tight embrace to say goodbye to him. She had come over and at first she had just stood there and had looked up at him. Her eyes had had a slight glistening to them and she had worn a bright smile. She had reached up and put her arms around him, giving him a very tight squeeze which she had ended with a very tender kiss on his cheek. That kiss had burned on his cheek all the way home, all the way through the night and even the next morning he was sure he could still feel her soft lips on his rough cheeks. Even through all the hair of his beard. And the feeling of her slight body in his arms had imprinted itself equally into his memory. He couldn’t stop thinking about it and felt stupid for it. Was he really that lonely and so starved for physical contact that a small hug could create such confusion and distraction? After he had cut himself chopping ingredients, he had decided it was best to spent the rest of the day working in the garden. But even there he couldn’t escape the sweet memories. Instead he kept glancing down to check for any signs of her.
But what would he do if he saw her? He knew he wanted to go down there. He wanted to return to their old schedule: afternoon teas and conversations on all and nothing. He tried to understand what it was that made him so eager. It had felt so good to look forward to their teas. He was a bit angry at himself for feeling this way. Why did it make him feel so good? To sit with her and listen to her chatter, to sip the mediocre tea and laze about in the comfortable armchairs. Was it really just his need for company or was there more to it? He couldn’t answer that question. But when he saw her stepping out on the lawn in the cottage garden, he immediately felt his heartbeat pick up. He stared at her like a bird of prey watches it’s victims. What was that woman doing with him? Or better, what was he allowing her to do with him?
When it was about three he gave up, returned his gardening tools to their shed with a wave of his wand and went inside to shower. Afterwards he stood by the bathroom sink and stared into the mirror above it. His beard was dripping, as was his hair. He lifted the mass of hair in his face and saw the scar. He could see the teeth and where they had pierced his skin. They had ripped his skin open when the snake had withdrawn after striking him. The poisonous fangs had left the deepest marks. He had often wondered how the beast had not torn his carotid artery. Probably because it had wanted him to suffer. The poison was strong but it led to a slow and painful death. The loss of consciousness was only a superficial effect. The real torment came in unconsciousness. That was when the hallucinations and the neuralgia were most effective because you could not be woken from them. You were imprisoned within yourself, suffering silently. He would have rather had his throat cut or his jugular ripped out. He would have been dead within 2-3 minutes.
The scar kept reminding him of what he had experienced in his poisoned state. As if it wasn’t enough that those same visions and nightmares came haunting him almost every night. He put his beard back over it.
And what would Sophie say if she ever saw it? What would she say if she ever learned who he truly was?
She wouldn’t find out. She mustn’t find out. He would make sure of it.
After he had dressed and had taken a moment to compose himself, he left to take the narrow path down into the cove. He walked slowly, still hanging on to the thoughts that had plagued him all day. As he stood in front of the door to her cottage he hesitated but he had no chance to turn back, the door swung open and he was faced with Sophie’s mother.
“Ah, there you are! We wondered whether we would be seeing you today.” she greeted him with a smile! That was a quick turn around… what had happened? Stunned he followed her into the sitting room where he found Sophie on the couch happily chatting with her father.
“Hello! You are here!”
She was on her feet instantly and enveloped him in a joyous embrace.
“I knew you would come. Are you ready for tea?”
She smiled her blinding smile at him again. And he felt the same warmth within him spread again. It was intoxicating to feel so welcome. He was reluctant to let her go again and answered hesitantly.
“I… yes, well, I thought I should come check on you. After all I’m supposed to give updates on your progress.”
There, that was a safe answer. He had a convincing reason to be here and it had nothing to do with how he made him feel. It was a responsibility he had voluntarily taken upon himself but which he intended to fulfill. He could always use this argument. One more occasion in which he was grateful for his quick mind.
“Yes, of course. Well, sit down and I will tell you all about my evening and the first night out of the hospital.”
She drew him down beside her on the couch and turned to him with her legs comfortably tugged away beneath her while her mother disappeared to prepare the tea and her father took up his tablet computer.
“Well, yesterday evening I ate with my parents. I still can’t believe how hungry I was! I ate like I haven’t eaten in months! And I enjoyed it! During chemo and after food always had this metallic taste to it, which I absolutely hated. But last night, it finally tasted like food again. I so enjoyed it! The taste of bread, the vegetables and the meat. It was so fantastic!”
Her eyes were shining and her enthusiasm was reflected in her body language. He felt like she could hardly keep herself from bouncing up and down like a little bouncy ball. It made him smile.
“And last night was … I can’t even say it! I slept through… the entire night! No pain, no waking up, no restlessness. And when I woke up this morning I felt so rested and fresh. I can hardly remember when I last felt so good. I felt so strong! I walked through the garden and noticed that I still tire easily but I walked by myself and needed no support! Can you believe it?”
Her happiness was contagious and he was laughing silently at her.
“I am pleased you are feeling so well. But do remember not to exhaust yourself too much. I am aware that after such a long period of illness you are eager to live a normal life again but you must be patient and give your body more time to recover.”
She smiled.
“Yes, I will not overexert, I promise. I just wanted you to know how happy I am and how grateful for your help.”
“You are welcome.”
Her mother brought the tea and they sat together drinking tea and eating biscuits. All in all it was a very pleasant afternoon and he went home after sharing their supper with a much lighter heart than he had come with. He even caught himself smiling as he walked back up to his cottage. What a fool he had turned into.
- 17
- 18
- 19
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Waking up