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Secretly Slytherin	By : Veresna Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 12269 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Chapter 23: Potions, Passions and Parents
At noontime, Snape directed his steps back up to the Hospital Wing, a large package containing the medicine bottles in his arms. As he entered the office, he could hear the buzz of a fair number of voices chattering away within the sick ward. He frowned, and moved silently to peer through the partially open door. She had guests, apparently. He listened to the voices and discerned the stern, stentorian tone of her grandmother. And some soft, murmuring sounds that he assumed were coming from Helena’s mother. A moment later, Pomfrey’s head poked out from behind the curtain.
"Oh, Professor Snape, do join us!" she urged, pushing aside one of the curtained partitions.
He reluctantly walked forward and looked at the tableau. Helena was sitting up, and the color of her face looked much better now. The scar on her left temple was now much lighter in color, and seemed to be fading before his eyes. Her leg was still covered and propped up, but Pomfrey had also changed the linen, and it was now pristinely white. No hint of blood or the hideous break it was hiding underneath it was apparent to the casual viewer.
"Oh, I was hoping you’d be coming soon!" cried Helena, giving him a large smile.
For the second time that day, Snape felt his heart lurch uncomfortably. He took a look at the frown on her grandmother’s face and wondered if the concussion had done more damage than he feared.
And he also began to pray that she had not continued to make rambling comments as she went in and out of consciousness.
"Yes," she laughed, and then murmured a soft groan, raising a hand to her bandaged head. "I have the most awful headache. But, Madam Pomfrey refused to give me anything for it, saying you’d be here soon with some medicine."
"Yes," he answered quickly, putting the package down upon the bedside table. "Four bottles, decreasing doses, as you requested. And a large bottle of ‘Skelegrow’."
"Excellent," cried Pomfrey.
"Professor Snape," began Helena’s mother, smiling at him.
She must have been in a hurry to come, he thought. For her hair was pinned back loosely this morning, rather than being in that tight, elaborate hairdo. Although the color was still atrocious, the style was much more becoming, he noted.
"I hear that you helped Madam Pomfrey with the healing spells," she said.
Snape noticed, with amazement, that her voice was also very similar to Helena’s.
"Yes, that was a surprise," interjected Helena. "I had no idea you had any training in medical wizardry?" she asked.
Snape frowned and looked down at his feet. For a moment, he had feared that she had indeed lost her recent memory and forgotten that he had healed her wrist just the night before. Then, he had seen the small gleam in her eye and knew that she was teasing him. She must be feeling well if she was back to her usual lying self.
"It would be almost impossible to have studied Potions for as long as I have without also gleaning a bit of medical knowledge," he replied, rather ungraciously.
"Humpf. I would think that a school as ‘distinguished’ as Hogwarts would maintain an adequate, properly trained medical staff," noted Mrs. Ettington with clear disapproval.
"Yes," answered Madam Pomfrey, "Perhaps you should bring that up to the Headmaster," she suggested.
Snape shot her a sharp look over the heads of the other ladies. She gave him the merest shrug in reply, as if to say, "No doubt she will anyway, so I might as well humor her. Better him than me."
"So, ladies," she spoke out loud. "I do think that Helena needs some rest, and I am hoping that Professor Snape will have enough time to help me treat her leg. So, perhaps, you two should be running along?" she urged.
Her mother frowned doubtfully. "Well, dear, are you’re sure you’re all right?"
She paused and brushed a kiss upon her cheek.
"Yes, Mum, I’m fine. Just horribly clumsy," she grimaced.
"Nonsense!" declared Mrs. Smythe-Forbush Ettington. "I’ve often noticed that the upkeep on the stairwells in the place is appalling. I have half a mind to go to the Headmaster right now and lodge a complaint!"
"Grandmother?"
The woman turned to regard Helena.
"Could you please speak a little softer?" she asked, again holding a hand gingerly to her head.
The older woman contented herself with a large, exasperated sigh.
"Why don’t you unpack everything and measure out the dose of ‘Skelegrow’ for me while I escort the ladies out?" Madam Pomfrey asked Snape.
A look of mild displeasure appeared on his face.
"Unless you would rather accompany them to the front door?" she asked, the gleam in her eyes leaving no doubt that she was sure he had no wish to spend any more time in the company of Helena’s grandmother.
"No, I should attend to the potions," he admitted, with a sigh. "Newly-brewed ‘Skelegrow’ is always very potent, and I think we should be very careful of the dose we administer," he replied.
"Of course. This way ladies-" In a moment, the three women were out of the room, Pomfrey closing the door firmly (but, Helena noted thankfully, softly) behind her.
He allowed a full minute to pass, during which time he ostensibly gave his full attention to unpacking the potions. Then he gave a quick glance back at the door before turning to address Helena.
"So, how’s your memory?" he began.
"If you’re inquiring as to whether or not I remember being called a whore last night, I assure you I do," was her cold response.
"I see."
He picked up one of the bottles and sat down on the bed. She winced in pain.
"More than your head bothering you?" he asked.
"Yes," she whispered, paling a little bit. "The numbing charm that Madam Pomfrey placed on leg is wearing off, too."
"Hmmm. Take about a third of this," he said, handing the bottle over to her.
She looked at him suspiciously.
"Oh, really, do you think I’d attempt to give you something right under Pomfrey’s nose?" he protested.
She considered the idea and shook her head. She took the bottle, unscrewed the cap and tilted her head back to drink. She closed her eyes as she did so, thereby not noticing that a very satisfied grin had flitted across Snape’s face.
*** No, I won’t attempt it while you’re here. But, I’m sure you’ll be back to your dormitory by Friday, when you take the "special" dose. ***
She looked surprised. "That didn’t taste bad at all," she exclaimed, screwing the top back and handing the bottle back to him.
"Yes, and I’m sure within a few minutes you’ll be very free of pain," he assured her. Actually, the formula usually did taste much worse. But the ingredients in his own potion were so horrible tasting that he had resorted to a large number of additional flavors to hide the bitterness. And, he wanted to make sure that all the bottles tasted the same.
She settled back, allowing him to pull up the pillows so that she could sit more comfortably.
"I understand Mr. Thurston was quite the hero," he noted, dryly.
"Yes, and he’s going to visit me later," she replied, rather defiantly.
"Well, it’s always nice to have friends visit," he replied, in a saccharine tone of voice.
"He is going to be more than a friend," she assured him, her eyes proud and fierce.
"What do you think Kathleen will say to that?" he asked, curiously.
"I think it’s more important what Lewis decides about it," she replied.
He regarded her thoughtfully. "Yes, I suppose he would feel rather conflicted. But, after all, his obsession with you is undeniable, isn’t it?"
She smiled up at him.
He smiled back, nastily, before continuing, with a puzzled frown. "But, I did think that you truly liked him?"
"I do," she assured him.
His smile vanished. "Then, why would you be foolish enough to make him a target for me again?" he asked, his voice deathly quiet.
She glared back up at him. "I believe your condition was, ‘as long as I was sharing your bed, I could not allow another man to touch me’. That was it, wasn’t it?" she asked.
He nodded.
"Well," she continued. "I am no longer in your bed, nor will I ever be again. So it is none of your damned business what I do with Lewis."
"I wouldn’t be so sure that you are really able to give me up so easily," he replied. Then he shrugged. "But we shall see."
"If you harm him, I will go straight to Dumbledore and tell him everything," she warned.
He looked at her and laughed. "Somehow I doubt that."
She opened her mouth to say something, but then slammed it shut as she heard Madam Pomfrey’s returning footsteps echoing in the outer room. By the time the Mediwitch walked back into the room, Snape was fastidiously measuring out a portion of medicine and Helena was opening her eyes, pretending that she had dozed off for a moment. Which, she found to her surprise, was not too hard. Snape’s medicine, while relieving her pain, was definitely making her sleepy.
Pomfrey glanced down at her watch. "I should think we have time to do this before you have to leave for afternoon class, Professor?"
"Yes, indeed," he replied.
"Now, Helena," she began. "I’m not sure if you really want to watch this. Should I put up a little shield while we work?"
She shrugged. "No, I’ll be performing it someday. And, in my current state," she blinked her eyes rapidly a few times, "I doubt it’s going to bother me."
Pomfrey laughed. "Yes, I can tell by the way your speech is slurring that you’re feeling quite relaxed at the moment. Now, Professor, let’s go over the entire incantation. You can point your wand at that side, and I’ll concentrate on this one."
Actually, Helena ended up being able to watch quite dispassionately as the Mediwitch uncovered her leg. She and Snape synchronized their movements and their spells. The ugly, broken bone faded away from view first, and shortly afterward the large, gaping wound it had caused also vanished. And a moment later Helena’s entire calf, from her knee to her ankle appeared squishy and flabby, as every trace of bone was eradicated from it.
"Now, then, here’s the really hard part," said Pomfrey, leaning over to pick up the glass of ‘Skelegrow’. "This is honestly one of the most disgusting potions you will ever have to drink."
Helena nodded and bravely put the glass to her lips. She ended up spitting part of the first mouthful back into the beaker. Then, seeing the look of amusement on Snape’s face, she took in a deep breath and forced herself to swallow the remaining liquid as quickly as she could.
"There," exclaimed Pomfrey, with a satisfied nod. "That should be good as new by tomorrow." She went to cover up the leg again.
"Can’t I watch it while it grows?" asks Helena, yawning.
Pomfrey laughed. "I think you better take a nap," she urged.
Helena’s eyes were already closed, and a moment later her even breathing indicated that she was indeed, asleep.
Snape turned to go.
"Thank you again, Professor for all your help."
"I’m always glad to be of assistance," he replied.
The Mediwitch walked with him to the office door.
"She is a remarkable young woman, isn’t she?" she noted quietly.
Something about Pomfrey’s manner and tone disturbed him. He contented himself with shrugging again.
"Well, really, Professor, I can’t recall that I’ve ever seen you sign a letter of recommendation for anyone outside of Slytherin before," she noted.
*** Ah, yes, she would have looked at all the letters, wouldn’t she? ***
"And probably never will again," he assured her, opening the door and striding out.
Pomfrey closed the door softly behind him and then turned back to regard the girl who was now sleeping peacefully. She crossed her arms and looked very thoughtful.
*****
Later that afternoon, the last class of the day was mercifully drawing to a close. It was First Year Potions with Slytherins and Gryffindors. And they were really, truthfully and honestly the largest group of dunderheads he had ever had the misfortune to teach. On top of which, the rumors of Voldemort’s reappearance had only served to intensify the class rivalries between the little brats. By the end of the period, he had taken off fifty points from Gryffindor and had been forced, by the absolutely appalling behavior of his own house, to take five points off of Slytherin. But, finally the little beasts were on their way out of the door.
He frowned down at his grade book as his pen scratched away upon it. And, then he heard a loud rapping at the door of his classroom. Sighing in frustration, he growled, "Yes?"
The door opened up and Snape could tell that his already horrible day was only going to get worse. For in the doorway stood Lucius Malfoy.
"Might I have a word with you, Severus?" asked the tall, blond and elegantly attired wizard.
"Of course, Lucius," he replied, slamming his grade book shut and rising to meet him.
A few minutes later they were seated in Snape’s office, Malfoy declining his offer of sherry.
"You of course know what brings me here?" Malfoy began.
Snape frowned. "I would assume it was Draco’s injury?"
The other man nodded angrily. "How exactly did it happen?"
Snape drew in a breath and quickly detailed his account of the incident.
Malfoy frowned. "Draco told me that Potter used his wand and a charm as well as his fist," he noted, suspiciously.
Snape shook his head adamantly. "No, merely his brute force. Which was augmented by his anger at whatever it was that your son said to Granger."
"Oh, yes, that filthy, bushy-haired Mudblood," spat the other man, contemptuously. "Seems that the Weasleys are quite fond of her too. I’m rather surprised that Arthur’s little brat didn’t join in."
"It would help if your son would learn to restrain his tongue from time to time," noted Snape, mildly.
The other man snorted. "Merlin knows I’ve tried to tell him that. He is much too cocky. Always has been."
Snape, with difficulty, kept his face expressionless.
*** Wonder where he could have gotten that trait from? ***
Malfoy sighed and rose from his chair, beginning to pace back and forth across the floor in increasing agitation.
"Though he’s hardly the only one. I can not believe that so many of our compatriots are such fools. They don’t seem to realize that the Dark Lord has no intention of making his resurrection known until his powers are fully restored. Too many of them are already making threats that they can not, as yet, hope to carry out."
"You are speaking very freely, Lucius?"
The man stopped pacing long enough to laugh. "Oh, come now, Severus. If there is any place on the Hogwarts grounds where I may speak freely, I am sure it is within your office."
"It is still not wise," Snape cautioned.
"At any rate, that’s not the only reason I am here," continued Malfoy, seating himself again. "I must say, Severus, I was rather surprised at some of the documents that have been sent to the Board lately?"
Snape contented himself with looking mildly curious.
Malfoy leaned down and retrieved some parchments out of the briefcase he had carried in with him. "For instance, this petition to the University to allow a Miss Helena Harrison immediate admission to the Mediwitch program-with your signature upon it?"
Severus sat back in his chair with a small frown upon his face and threw his hands open wide. "It would have been rather awkward for me to refuse to sign the petition, considering her qualifications," he protested.
"Oh, of course, Severus, of course. But," the man hesitated and drew up another piece of paper. "Why on earth would you write a personal letter of recommendation?" he asked, drawing up his eyebrows.
Snape brought his hands together and shrugged. "I can only say that, in this particular instance, I felt it was necessary," he replied, coldly.
"Well, I don’t doubt that," responded Malfoy, though his voice distinctly dubious. "But, it does raise a rather interesting question-"
He paused again. Snape waited, patiently, for him to continue.
"Tell me, Severus, was this her reward for ‘services rendered’?"
Snape refused to give Malfoy even the satisfaction of seeing him blink in response to that query.
"Or," continued Lucius, "Did that clever little witch make you sign this BEFORE she would let you get between those pretty little legs of hers?"
Severus allowed the silence to stretch on for a long time, furrowing his brow as if trying hard to remember.
"You know, Lucius," he finally said, "It is rather hard to pinpoint the exact way we negotiated that little item. Let’s just say, we found it to be to our mutual advantage."
"I see," replied Malfoy, beginning to laugh.
"I must say," continued Snape, speaking slowly and carefully, "it does my heart good to see that you are so concerned about the matter. I hope it wasn’t too much of a shock for you to hear that both of your children were in the infirmary today?"
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Secretly Slytherin