𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍

Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

Professor Dumbledore entered the Hospital Wing through the fireplace. His blue eyes filled with concern as Poppy gave him the most recent reports on his Potions master. Things did not look good. Albus wondered if the man on the bed knew. He probably did; Severus Snape had one of the sharpest minds he had ever known.

A figure followed Albus into the Hospital Wing. Dressed in a long gown and black robes with a hood, only a bit of pale skin and blonde hair was visible. Apparently, it was enough for the boy in the room to recognise her.

“Mrs. Malfoy!” Harry exclaimed, standing up.

Mrs. Malfoy looked up, grey eyes meeting green.

“Mr. Potter,” Mrs. Malfoy said.

“What are you doing here?” Harry asked curiously.

“Mrs. Malfoy has been kind enough to act as Professor Snape’s substitute today,” Dumbledore said. “She was his apprentice many years ago, and still has a great interest in the field of Potions.”

Harry’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Oh.”

She smiled at him. Albus saw the surprise on Harry’s face.

“It’s—it’s nice to meet you,” Harry said.

“The same to you, Mr. Potter,” said Mrs. Malfoy.

Albus looked at his Potions master. Severus slept, and Harry returned to his seat next to him, dabbing a white damp cloth to his face. Severus looked very pale, more so than normal. His hair looked wet as well, and stuck to his throat, making him look even thinner than usual. He had lost several pounds in the last two days.

Albus placed a hand on Harry’s shoulder.

"You should go back to your dorm, my boy. Thank you for your help today.”

Harry looked up at him. Without surprise, Albus noted the worry in those green eyes.

"Will he be all right?" Harry asked quietly.

Albus sighed. "We don't know, Harry. We don't know."

"But – Madam Pomfrey can always heal—And you—You're supposed to be the greatest wizard ever—"

"Harry, we’re doing everything we can," Albus said. "Now you should go back to your dorm and sleep."

Harry recognised the firm tone in the Headmaster’s voice, and he touched Snape’s forehead one final time, before setting the cloth away on a table nearby. He gave the Potions professor one last look, and then he bid the other grown-ups in the room good night and disappeared out the door.

Sighing heavily, Albus turned back to Poppy.

Severus awoke to the feeling of soft hands cupping his face. Beautiful silver eyes framed by long lashes watched him, and he felt warm and loved all at once, even as pain wracked his body and his head thundered with a headache.