𝑭𝑳𝑶𝑾𝑬𝑹𝑺 𝑰𝑵 𝑯𝑬𝑹 𝑯𝑨𝑰𝑹 - Severus Snape

TWENTY TWO

22|THE LATE SHIFT

two years later

Her long brown hair was pulled back in a sleek bun, strands falling out from the long shift. Her feet ached, the numbing spell wearing off as she finally collapsed in a chair. The paperwork piled up high on her desk, many patients had been filling the beds as the rise of Voldemort became more prominent.

"Dr. Potter." A nurse burst into her office, breathing heavily from running. "We need your help."

"Show me." Willow scrambled out her chair and followed after the nurse, racing through the hallways.

Her green eyes widened as she looked over the unconscious body on the bed, his messy black hair matted with blood and ripped clothes. His wounds were obvious, large gashes over his chest and stomach.

"Sev?" She gasped, reaching for him. She cupped his head, trying to wake him up. "What the hell happened to you?"

Willow got to work, healing the deep wounds and pumping blood back into his body. He had remained unconscious the entire time, scaring her more as she tried to stay calm.

She sent away the nurses, finishing off the bandages and cleaning away the blood. As she reached for his face, a hand shot up and grabbed her wrist, startling her as she yelped in fright.

"Where am I?" His voice was hoarse as he spoke, eyes barely open as he looked around the room.

"Severus, it's Willow." Willow tried to calm him down, meeting his scared stare. "It's Willow Potter from Hogwarts."

"Wills?" Severus mumbled, his stare softening as he saw her for the first time in two years. Her features had matured over the years but she was still as beautiful as the day she left. "Merlin, this world is a cruel place."

"What happened?" She inquired, stepping back and sitting beside the bed. "I did not expect to see you again after so long unconscious with deep wounds all over your body."

"Just a small disagreement." He sighed, closing his eyes as the exhaustion from healing hit him. "So, you are a doctor now? I knew you could do it."

"I did it." She grinned shyly, forgetting about their last conversation. "I aced my training and I am loving it so much. Although the late shift is never fun. Been on my feet for twelve hours straight."

"I would offer a foot massage but I am slightly incapacitated." A flirtatious smirk made its way on to his lips.

"I might ask you again once you're feeling better." Willow played along, their behaviour going back to their years in Hogwarts. "Until then, you're welcome to use my hands for your own needs. They heal."

"I won't believe you till I see it." Severus chuckled to himself, taking in a sharp breath as the pain hit him. "Shit, I think I need it now."

"Hold still." She immediately went back into medical mode, pulling out her wand and mumbling a few pain reducing spells. Willow pushed his blanket aside, checking the wounds for any infections. "Does that feel better?"

"Much." He breathed out heavily, relaxing as the pain in his body went numb. "Thank you."

"How have you been?" Willow sat back in the chair, nervously playing with her wand. "It's been a while."

"You're still as beautiful as the last time I saw you." Severus winked, distracting her from her question.

"Flirting won't work with me." She shook her head, hiding her giggles. "I lived with Sirius for a year."

"Are you and him?"

"Together?" Her mind slowly slipped to the drunken night the pair had spent together, both promising to never tell their friends. "No. We are just close friends."

"Are you with anyone?" He asked awkwardly, curious about her after spending almost every day since graduation thinking about her.

"No." She answered honestly, pausing as she heard the nurses running around outside the room. "I'm afraid I need to do a few checks on other patients before my shift ends. You also need your rest."

"I'm always here if you need your feet rubbed better." He teased her, watching her cheeks turn red as she understood the underlying suggestion.

"I will see you tomorrow." Willow smiled at him, standing up and walking to the door.

"Until then, Doctor Potter." Severus lifted his hand and waved as she left the room, shutting the door behind her to give him privacy.