Healing His Heart

Chapter 4

Screaming woke Helena from her peaceful sleep, she realised it was Severus screaming from across the corridor.

With no time to get dressed, Helena pulled her button up shirt on and quickly wrapped it across her exposed breasts. She quickly ran out of chambers and into Severus's, thankfully he had taken his password wards off so that she could get in.

Helena rushed to Severus's room and found him trashing in his bed, sweat gleamed on his bare chest which was covered in scars.

Helena shook Severus, "Hush Severus, you're okay, nothing is going to hurt you. Wake up please."

Severus sat up right quickly and gasped in pain, Helena summoned another pain potion and tipped it down his throat.

"Miss Stephens?" Severus sputtered and pulled the blankets up to cover his scarred chest. Helena pretended not to notice his chest or his defensive action, instead she went back to comforting him, "You had a nightmare Severus, I could hear you screaming from my bedroom."

Severus sighed, "I'm sorry for waking you," he said softly.

Helena shook her head, "You do not need to apologise to me Severus, I said I would look after you and that is what I'm doing. I was going to wake up soon anyway, it's almost six o'clock."

Severus's eyes flicked over her clothing and he blushed, "I was going to ask you for help to the bathroom but you seem to be a little underdressed."

Helena went pink, "Oh um... I can help you but can I possibly borrow one of your shirts? It would be longer on me."

Severus nodded and pointed to the closet, Helena went over to it and selected a black button up shirt.

She turned her back to Severus and quickly swapped shirts, she then turned back around and went to help him.

"Severus?" Helena asked hesitantly.

"Yes Miss Stephens?" Severus responded in confusion.

Helena took a calming breath, "Would you allow me to shave you and cut your hair? It will make you feel a little better," she added quickly.

Severus looked at her and nodded, "That would be appreciated."

They entered the bathroom and Helena summoned a chair for Severus to sit on, only then did she realise that he was no longer worried about covering his scars.

Severus sat down and Helena found scissors and a razor in the vanity. With nurse precision, Helena cut Severus's hair so that it once again rested upon his shoulders. She then carefully shaved his face so that it was once again smooth.

"So that's what the esteemed Potions Master Severus Snape looks like," she said jokingly.

Severus looked in the mirror and fell silent as he took in his appearance, he already seemed lighter. Severus turned to face Helena with a small smile, "Thank you Helena."

Helena was shocked at Severus using her first name, "Did you just call me by my first name?"

Severus froze, "I'm so sorry, I never intended any disrespect."

Helena smiled and caressed his cheek, "Please don't apologise, friends call each other by their first names right?"

Severus nodded, "Of course Helena."

Helena turned to the shower and turned on the taps so that the water was warm but not hot, she turned to the freshly shaved wizard, "I trust you can shower without assistance? And I mean a proper shower with soap and shampoo."

Severus blushed and nodded, "I believe I can do that."

Helena smiled, "Alright well I'm going to get dressed and then check on the potion. I'll be back in two hours for breakfast."

Severus nodded, "Keep the shirt, it's better than the one you were hardly covered up by."

Helena was blushing furiously, she quickly nodded and left Severus to his shower. Helena walked back into her chambers and found all her belongings had been brought to her, on top of her trunk sat a note:

Dear Helena,

As a sign of my appreciation for what you are doing for Severus, I have taken the liberty of having your belongings sent to you.

- Minerva

p.s. Please meet me in my office for tea at three o'clock.

Helena smiled and flicked her wand at the trunk, it magically unpacked itself and all her belongings flew into the closet and drawers.

Once this was done Helena selected a pair of black jeans with rips in the knees, a dark green off-shoulder silk top and her black leather heeled boots.

After she finished getting dressed, Helena parted her hair done the middle and pulled it into a low bun. She quickly applied light makeup and headed down to the Potions labs to complete the next step of the potion.

The next step of the potion was to add a powdered bezoar as it would help to counteract the progression of the poison. As Helena stirred the potion the door swung open and a fuming Dr Benson stormed into the room followed by a weary Minerva.

Helena sighed and continued to stir the potion counterclockwise, "Dr Benson, Minerva, it's a pleasure to see you both. Minerva you may want to leave before Dr Benson here loses his cool, I shall see you in your office at three."

Minerva cast a worried glance at Dr Benson before nodding at Helena and leaving the room.

Helena turned her focus to the fuming doctor, "Are you here to have a go at me because I have found a cure for Severus?"

Dr Benson stepped forward with a menacing glare, "You have broken staff protocol by taking Mr Snape's file and then proceeding to go behind all of his doctors' backs by not consulting us about this cure. You are a nurse Miss Stephens, not a doctor!"

Helena rolled her eyes and removed the cauldron from the flame and set it down to simmer while she added leech blood.

"You can yell at me all you want Michael, but I have found a cure for Severus Snape and I will not stop because I promised that I would never hurt him in anyway," Helena stated as she stirred the leech blood in.

The doctor sighed, "And what makes you think that a simple nurse like yourself can make such a sophisticated potion?"

Helena turned to face Dr Benson, "I am no simple nurse Dr Benson. I am half English and half Hispanic and I am fluent in both English and Spanish. At the age of nine I lost my father who sacrificed his life to save people, my mother then raised me to be strong and caring. I was told by my Potions professor at Castelobruxo that I am one of the most talented potioneers in the world. I can save Severus, and you will not stand in my way, do you understand?"

Dr Benson stepped back a little, his eyes wide, "I will not try and stop you, and I will ensure you that you shall have no other doctor interference. However, you are no longer free to work at St Mungo's, what you have done cannot be overlooked."

Helena sighed, "I understand."

With that Dr Benson swept from the room leaving Helena to stare at the potion in front of her.

She didn't regret her decision to break staff protocol, in fact she would do it all over again. Helena shook her head and headed back to Severus's chambers to join him for breakfast.

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