Severus & Serena One Shots

The Healer's Curse

Second year. March. Pre-engagement. Trigger warnings of abuse/trauma.
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Severus woke up to the alarm clock. He rolled over to wake Serena but she was gone. That was strange. She liked to stay up and sleep as late as she possibly could. As pleasant as she could be, she was also that volatile. Night terrors often overtook her, thrashing and screaming; crying for mercy. Hot tears soaking her pillow and sweat shining on her forehead. Small fists swinging and balling up the sheets while her legs jerked.

He was no stranger to night terrors, they plagued him as well. Though admittedly they had lessened as he had been going through healing sessions with Serena. He didn't want to use her, thinking it would place added stress on their relationship. But, she was the best healer in the entire UK, he would trust no one else.

"Serena? Serena?" he called out, a bit of fear spiking into his cool tone.

He walked around her bed, the grey comforter soft against his legs. Not in the bathroom, or the dining area. He opened up her balcony and breathed out a sigh of relief. She was balled up in the corner of the stone balcony, curls blowing in the wind, arms wrapped around her neck with her face stuffed between her knees. He walked up slowly so as not to spook her.

"Serena? Are you alright?" he asked in a soft voice, one that he didn't realize he could possess.

"Bad memories...Couldn't sleep...My brain is too loud, it hurts" she whispered, her voice cracked and muffled.

To him, she was the portrait of strength. Constantly braving the world, wading through the emotions of the students, staff, and of course his. A pang of guilt shot through him, maybe he was a part of the problem.

"What do you need?" he placed his hand on her head, knees popping as he knelt down.

She kept her head tucked, pulling away from him as she muttered "I can't teach today. Hermione said she would take my classes if I need it"

He waited a minute longer before she barked out "You don't have to stay here. Go."

Defensiveness often masked fear and insecurity. He knew that the best. Anger was a means of hiding fear. He stood up slowly, feeling every bit his age of 42.

He entered the great hall searching for Hermione, finding her at the usual spot. Gliding up to the table, he whispered that Serena needed her to teach today.

Her eyes filled with worry as she questioned "She had a few rough healing sessions with a student this week...And she has been feeling down lately...Who heals the healer?"

Severus jerked his eyebrows together. Why had Serena not mentioned this to him? The burden of healing lay heavy and she needed to share it. He wanted to be the only one that she shared with. Fighting down the urge to snap at Granger, he nodded curtly.

"Please sir...Severus...She needs watched. This doesn't happen often but healers can suffer from overload and do things they normally wouldn't. She's never shown you before..." Hermione warned him softly.

"Why wouldn't she tell me?" he asked before he could stop himself.

"She probably didn't want to worry you. Maybe she didn't think it was that bad yet...Last year before you two were...well, together...She needed a lot of care; she spent the weekend at St. Mungos with one of their healers" she informed him.

He felt the blood drain from his face. He never thought about the fact that constant energy taking and replenishing would cause so much havoc. That she wasn't able to let it go, that the memories and energy lingered.