Ethereal

stella

Chapter one

"You have to swear it, Belle. You can't tell a soul." A blanket fort covered the two children, only Christmas lights lit the fort up. An old shoe box sat in between the children, the boy leaned over it, slightly in the girl's face that eagerly nodded. She wanted to see what was in the box but the boy guarded it with his life. "Cross your heart!" Her little hands crossed her heart. The boy nodded his head and opened the shoe box, inside laid a kitten. It's leg was bleeding and it was obviously hurt, it cried out weakly in pain. The girl lifted her hand to her mouth and she gasped.

"Nathan, you have to tell mom!" Belle said as she pet the white fur of the kitten in a feeble attempt to comfort it.

"Can't you just do the thing!" He begged. Belle's eyes looked up and him an back down to the mewing kitten.

"But mom can just use her wand!" She said looking to her brother.

"You promised you wouldn't tell! Please, she's gonna die." Nathan began to cry to his sister. Belle rolled her eyes and sighed, she put both of her hands on the kitten's body and began to think. She imagined the kitten healthy and strong, soon enough the kitten stood up and meowed loudly. Belle fell back and blood trickled out of her nose, she wiped it away and glared at Nathan.

"That stupid cat better be worth it."

"She will be. Just give her a chance."

"Stella, no." Belle picked the white cat up off the counter and put her on the floor. The days were a quiet long wait for poor Belle as she waited for Severus Snape to wake up from his coma. Belle spent her days at Saint Mungos, sitting next to him and waiting for him to awaken. That's what she was to do today, but the sun wasn't up yet and a lazy blue light covered the kitchen.

The coffee made the room smell heavenly but Belle could hardly stand it much anymore. When she was younger she could just drink it black but now she had to dilute it with plenty of vanilla creamer. Younger. Belle scoffed at the thought. Belle was in no way old as she had just reached age twenty-five. Belle felt old though, like she had lived hundreds of lives for hundreds of years. The sweet of the coffee was almost as bad as the bitter but Belle needed to stay awake and sleep wasn't something she got much of anymore.

Belle was getting to leave her house around eight o' clock. She slid on her shoes and slung a black backpack over her shoulder. "I'll be back before dinner, Stella. Don't give me that look." The cat tilted her head in confusion not understanding the words that fell from Belle's lips. "I'm talking to the cat." Belle muttered and shook her head. "Goodbye Ricky!" She shouted. From upstairs a muffled groan sounded, her brother was still asleep. The door shut with a soft click and the cold late December air hit her face.

The walk from London to Saint Mungos was not long, not that Belle minded she rather enjoyed walking. Saint Mungos was a large place filled with many twist and turns, many found themselves lost in such a building. Belle had her route memorized, she went through the hallways with such memory that it was like she worked there. "Good morning, Belladonna." The receptionist behind the main desk said. Belle cringed at her whole name but lightly waved and smiled at her anyway.

A Doctor stood outside of Severus' door when she got there, running is dark eyes over his chart. "Hello, Belle! How are you this fine morning?"

"I'm well, Dr Stephens. I'm well. How is he?" She asked after shaking his hand. Doctor Stephens was a tall, dark man who was in in forties. He was bald and Belle was sure he was married, or had been. They hadn't ever said more than a few lines and never went personal. It's was always the casual 'Hey is he still alive?' And then on with their days. The silence was long and awkward, Belle's heart sank.

"Is he?" She couldn't mutter the word. She couldn't dare it. It was like poison on her tastebuds. He couldn't be just gone. Not after everything they had been through.

"No no no, Belle. He isn't dead. He's awake." Belle wanted to rush in. Talk to him. Know that what she had done worked, but she patiently waited for the doctor to finish. "He's Just disorientated. Scared. Keeps saying the name 'Daniel'."

"Daniels. It's my surname." She said and walked past him into the room. There, sitting up, was Severus Snape. Alive and breathing. It had worked. "You're a sight for sore eyes." She smiled and placed her bag by the chair next to his bed and sat down, pulling her legs under her.

"Daniels. W-what happened?" His voice was hoarse and strained. Belle was tying her hair back into a low pony tale, Severus carefully watched her. "I r-remember, Nagini." Now that he thought of it he didn't remember much else. He would hear her now and then while in the coma. Talking to nurses and doctors. She also would read sometimes. He hardly remembered that, for the most part his mind was blank.

"I don't think it's a good idea to talk about it right now." She smiled at him. "You've just woken up." Her hand patted his arm.

"T-tell me something." He growled. Belle didn't lose her smile as she pulled out a text book and paper and began writing. It was a muggle text book, she was attending muggle university.

"I'll tell you a little." She sighed, giving in to the dark stare of the man. "I found you in the boat house." She still didn't look up from her writing. "Helped you as much as I could and brought you here. You've been out for about seven months. I've been here every day."

"W-why?" He asked. Belle didn't know why. Maybe she was compensating for Nathan. Maybe she just felt wrong leaving him there. Maybe she was drawn to him.

"I don't know." She spoke honestly. Then a nurse popped her head in and waved for Belle. Belle patted Severus' arm and walked out to the nurse.

"Richard is on the phone for you." Belle nodded and quickly grabbed that phone. Severus could see her from the glass window of the room. Her elbow leaned on the counter as she talked on the phone. She looked flustered and hurried, she nodded her head so much it was a shock she didn't give herself whiplash. When she came back in she was swift in packing her things.

"I'll be back tomorrow. If you'd like." She offered. Severus nodded his head. He didn't know why he wanted her back. Belle was one of his students but he couldn't seem to remember her l being much trouble. That being said she was never extraordinary either and he hadn't been her teacher for nearly nine years now. None the less he nodded and was eager for her return. She was about to leave the room when she turned back around. "Severus, I'm glad you're awake."