Severus & Serena One Shots

St. Valentines Fight

"Any Valentines Day plans Hermione?" Serena asked her friend that Friday night at dinner.

"My friend Ginny invited me for a girls night, after my rounds tonight. My last stroll around the grounds is at seven" Hermione answered, looking a little forlorn.

"I don't have any plans, I'll take your rounds. Why don't you go ahead now?" she suggested, knowing that Hermione desperately missed her friends and didn't get to see them as often as she liked

"Oh thank you Serena! I'll bring you back some home cooked food!" Hermione promised, jumping up and giving her a hug before racing down the stairs

"No plans with anyone special Miss Barrett?" the headmistress asked sweetly, a little too sweetly

"No ma'am. I don't really enjoy perfunctory holidays. Plus, I don't have anyone special" she answered in what was a tactful way.

The last time Minerva had given her a bit of advice concerning her colleague, friend, and possibly someday more, Severus Snape, he had imploded. Weeks long fall out and general awkwardness. Still, they had pushed through. Sat in silence when necessary. Glancing in the others direction when they weren't watching. Half hearted touches on the shoulder and back. Tension. So much tension. The past few days had begun to get back to normal; or rather, normal for them. All the romantic feelings buried under the surface, lying dormant like lava. A geyser just biding it's time.

"That's a pity. I heard Professor Burwell and some others are going to the Hogshead for drinks later. I'm much too old for such shenanigans..." she joked, turning her attention back to her dessert.

She wouldn't be caught dead around Titus Burwell, and she thought he had finally gotten the message. But he could just be pacing himself. She rolled her eyes, excusing herself from the table. She wanted to see Severus, in spite of the need to work through tension. But, he had left early after lunch for a meeting of Potions masters in Diagon Alley. He hadn't been particularly thrilled about socializing, but learning about advancements and contributing his findings was important.

Seven o'clock rolled around, and she began the rounds. First floor. Second. Third. The kitchen. Common room entrances. Hidden hallways. Her dormitory. Chatting with some of the professors who were hanging around their shared lounge. Ten o'clock signaled the time for the students to be in bed, and she made one last perimeter check around the outside of the castle.

Nothing appeared out of the ordinary until she got to the gate and spotted a heap of clothing. Whoever it was grasped the bars and tried to stand up but failed. Running over, she lit up her wand calling out

"Identify yourself immediately!"

"It's me..." a weak voice answered back

Severus.

She bounded to his side, pushing back the hair from his face. It was sticky with blood.

"Oh my god. What happened?" she questioned almost rhetorically, she didn't care in this instant.

He doubled over, giving her just enough time to catch him. She levitated him without permission, running with him into the staff entrance.

"We need to see Poppy!" she told him, about to turn to the infirmary wing.

"No! You do it" he gasped, grabbing at her cloak

"Severus, I don't even know what's wrong with you" she argued but he began coughing up blood

"Okay okay, you better not die before we get to the dungeons" she warned, heart racing as she rushed him down the slick stairs

Laying him on the floor, she threw over a quick cleansing charm and was able to see the thick gaping wound from his skull to forehead, a swollen nose, bloodied lip, and bruised cheeks.