Chapter Eight: Business as Usual

Chapter Eight: Business as Usual

Sunday, 30 August 1998

Severus stifled a yawn. He didn't know whether his current inability to concentrate was due to lack of sleep, the potions he'd taken that morning, or just the general malaise he'd been feeling in recent weeks. Whatever the cause, it seemed an exercise in futility to continue to try to read, so he put aside his Potions journal for another day.

Nothing else on his desk caught his attention, and he looked across the room at the clock. Another hour and a half before his third dose of the Nagini potion. Lunch was also being served at noon that day, although staff would wander in any time between noon and twelve-thirty. Since the Nagini potion hadn't had any obvious noxious side-effects and he wasn't due for his next dose of Ferron's Elixir until that evening, he believed that he would attend lunch in the Great Hall. Until then, perhaps a nap . . . Severus was not, as a rule, a napper, but he could think of nothing better to do at that moment, and he was sleepy.

Just as he determined that a nap might be in order, there was a sharp rap on his office door.

"Come in." It was irritating not to be able to open the door to his visitors, nor to be able to ward it behind him. He was making due with the door's ordinary lock, using the great iron key that Shunpike had given him the previous day, having retrieved it from Hagrid. Shunpike had cleaned and oiled the locking mechanism, which hadn't been used in several decades, and the deadbolt lock now worked easily. Still, any first-year student who could utter Alohomora could gain access to his office as it was. Fortunately, his quarters were still protected by a password, though he couldn't use his more elegant password charm or any additional wards. He tried to remind himself that conditions were not as dire as they had been before Riddle's defeat, and that with or without magic, he could handle any snot-nosed little miscreants who might try to invade his privacy on a dare or a whim.

The door opened and a smiling Headmistress stepped into his office. "Good morning, Severus! How are you feeling today?"

"I had been about to take a nap," he replied grumpily. This time, it was the truth he told her.

"Ah, I see. Well, this won't take long." Minerva sat down in one of his guest chairs and held out a large folder to him. Unlike the Headmaster, she did not Transfigure the chair into something more comfortable, but she did seem to have an irritating twinkle in her eye. Severus wondered whether it was something that one acquired when one became Headmaster or Headmistress, although he could not imagine Phineas Nigellus Black ever twinkling at anyone about anything.

"It's just the schedules you drew up for me last week," Minerva continued. "I made a few very minor adjustments, and then duplicated them for you. If you would hand them 'round at the staff meeting tomorrow morning, I would appreciate it. You may then field any questions about them, if you would."

"Hmpf. What sorts of changes?"

"I would like staff on meal duty to be in the Great Hall five minutes before the meal is to begin, so I added that, and I was also aware of a conference that Albus wants to attend in two weeks, so in order to accommodate that, I just exchanged his name and Ezra's on the schedules."

"I presume that the full staff will be in attendance at the meeting tomorrow?" Most of the staff had arrived by the Friday morning meeting, but there were still a few who hadn't and whom Severus hadn't yet met.

"Yes, everyone has arrived over the last few days. We have a full complement in the castle now," Minerva replied. "Ezra arrived last night, and Olivia Ouellette and Caspar Lloyd both arrived this morning. Filius and Shunpike arranged for the three to have quarters in the staff wing on the fourth floor. The house-elves prepared the suites for all of the new staff over the summer, so there's nothing to concern you there, unless any of them has a problem or special request. They've been told to go to you, so just use your judgment if they do. I am sure that Swelka and Mr Shunpike will assist you if there are any changes they require."

Swelka was the aged house-elf who oversaw all of the house-elves in the castle. Although Severus had been Deputy Headmaster since Dumbledore's supposed death in March of ninety-seven, his service to Minerva as a spy during the war had taken precedence over everything else, and so he had scarcely had time to deal with the duties traditionally delegated to the Deputy. Minerva had managed, and Hogwarts had functioned by relying upon years of tradition and habit. That couldn't continue indefinitely, though, and Minerva was definitely taking a firmer grasp of the day-to-day operations of the school and expecting more from her deputy.

"I will speak to them at lunch, then," Severus said with a nod.

"And you will still be meeting with Amanda this afternoon?" Minerva asked.

"I considered cancelling the interview, but putting it off seemed pointless. The questions are all acceptable. And it's not as though she's going to ask me to demonstrate spells. I thought I'd rather get it over with, continue with business as usual."

Minerva nodded. "Probably wisest, particularly as the Prophet wants to run the interview on Tuesday to coincide with the first day of classes. They're doing a capsule profile of each of the staff members, both old and new. Filius approved them for accuracy, but they're all fairly innocuous, anyway."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Flitwick approved them?"

"They were sent to us a few weeks ago, before you returned to the school. They wanted time to make corrections if need be. The only ones he didn't approve were Cahill's and Ouellette's, and that's because they were only hired last week. I read them over yesterday, since you were indisposed."

"Hmpf. Well. You know them better, anyway," Severus replied uncomfortably. He wondered whether Minerva was regretting keeping him on as Deputy Headmaster. He would certainly prefer Flitwick to himself if he were her, especially now that he was practically a Squib.

"Yes, I do. It took me only a few minutes; it would have taken you longer, and I knew that you weren't feeling well. I'm glad you seem better today. I admit, I've been worried about you."

"Mm. The side-effects from the Ferron's Elixir seem to be diminishing, and I've noticed little reaction to the Nagini potion when I take it . . . although I do feel more tired than I should," Severus said hesitantly.

"You do look tired," Minerva replied, "but from what Albus told me, that's to be expected from the Ferron's Elixir. He was distressed to hear that you experienced such severe nausea from it, though."

"That is abating, and Madam Pomfrey has given me an antiemetic potion that I can take a half hour before the Elixir, and that has also helped," Severus said, not minding the concern in Minerva's voice.

"When is your last dose?" Minerva asked.

"I do not know," Severus replied, "though I think I'll be finished with the Nagini antivenin on Monday night. I believe I will be on the Ferron's Elixir only through Friday, however, at which point, Melina will perform the spell treatments."

"Please let me know if you need any time away from your classes this week or next," Minerva said earnestly. "I wouldn't want you to damage your health permanently out of some stubborn desire to brave your way through the first week of classes. I know that I could get Murdoch to step in for a few days, or, if he isn't able to, Albus could and we could have someone else take Defence."

Severus nodded shortly. "I will bear that in mind. But I can make adjustments for the few days of classes next week. I have the sixth- and seventh-year classes brewing simple potions from the OWLs curriculum, ones they have brewed before, so I will not do any demonstrations. Such review is useful for them, in any case. Each morning, Twiskett will remove the ingredients required for the day and then re-ward the potions cupboard so that the students will have no need to access it and I won't have to leave it open and unwarded all day. It will be adequate, though I would not care to make such adjustments for any longer than absolutely necessary."

"That reminds me: Albus has offered to ward your office for you using a simple password, just as he did during the Adfectus incident. Lock and key are fine for basic security, but some more imaginative students might try to open the door, regardless, if they should notice that you are not using any magic."

"I would appreciate that. It has bothered me to have my office unsecured by my usual wards."

"I'll let him know, then. He's planning to be in his office after lunch if you'd like to stop by and discuss it with him."

Severus nodded. To ask her to act as an intermediary would be childish. He could certainly speak with the former Headmaster himself. It was Hogwarts business, and he was Deputy Headmaster. That reminded him of a question that had occurred to him a few days before.

"It is . . . interesting that he has decided to continue in the Defence position," Severus remarked. "I was wondering whether any other headmaster or headmistress had continued to teach after no longer holding the head position."

Minerva shook her head. "It is entirely unprecedented, as far as I know. Most headmasters and headmistresses in the last few centuries have died in the post, and those who haven't, have retired at a relatively old age. Headmaster Dippet died just months before he was scheduled to retire. In earlier centuries in the school's history, headmasters would usually retire after a decade or two, often when they were still relatively young, but to my knowledge, none ever returned to teach at Hogwarts after retirement. Most found other occupations for their time, ones which were more remunerative and less personally confining. There have, however, been several Heads of House who left Hogwarts and who later returned to teach, or who stepped down as Head of House but who continued on as an ordinary member of staff. And, of course, the deputy position has been flexible ever since it became regular practice to have a deputy. In Dippet's day, it was considered an unwelcome chore and used to rotate amongst the Heads of House until Albus came on staff and was willing to take it indefinitely, as did I."

Severus quirked a slight smile. "An unwelcome chore? And have the duties changed so much since then?"

Minerva laughed. "Not very much in some respects, quite a bit in others," she replied. She looked at him fondly. "I'd like to think of us as a team, Severus. You and I together can make a mark on Hogwarts. We have a great opportunity here, and we shouldn't waste it. No Dark Lord, a Board of Governors that is younger and more progressive than it's been in years, a Ministry that doesn't want to meddle, parents who want to put the past behind us...it's a wonderful time for Hogwarts. Enrolment is even up. As you know, we're admitting several twelve-year-old students whose parents had declined to enrol them last year. They're all 'half-blood'...at least one parent is a Muggle or Muggle-born...and their parents hadn't felt that it was safe for them to attend Hogwarts last year. A few still declined the second invitation...one father wrote back saying that he would not see his daughter attending a school that had been the site of a bloody battle in which students had fought and died, and I couldn't blame him. But I'm excited about the future of the school, and I hope you are, too."

"It is an opportunity for Hogwarts, as you say," Severus said, not wanting to dampen Minerva's enthusiasm, but unable to share it. Nonetheless, he was pleased that she didn't seem to be considering replacing him. "I will endeavour to assist you in anyway you require." He shifted in his chair. "I am sorry that my current condition places limitations on me. It is, no doubt, a burden for you."

"It's a temporary condition, though, I'm sure, and it's hardly a burden for me. It's not as though there's anything I need you to do that requires you to use magic that I couldn't just as easily have someone else do in the interim." Minerva hesitated. "There is one concern I have . . . I know that you are revising your plans for the first week's classes, and I'm sure you've taken into account whether any of the potions are potentially dangerous, but I am concerned about the possibility of accident. I don't want you to damage your core by performing magic in an emergency, but I believe you would if there were an accident that placed students at risk."

Severus shrugged. "It is unlikely that will happen. I have chosen to have them brew potions with the least possibility of an error causing any dangerous consequences, though when dealing with dunderheads, it seems they can always find some new way of creating catastrophe. But I see no way around it...unless you wish to relieve me of my teaching duties."

Minerva shook her head. "No. I trust your judgment there. If you feel fit to teach and have made changes to your lessons to accommodate your current condition, then I trust your ability to do so. However, as you say, there could be unforeseen problems. That is why I would like to suggest that you have Twiskett on hand in the classroom. He could easily contain any explosion or noxious fumes if there were an accident, and in the meantime, he could simply stay out of sight."

Severus did not respond immediately, though he kept himself from frowning. He disliked the idea of having the house-elf in his classroom, yet he could see the merit in it, and if it were another teacher who was involved, he would endorse the idea himself. "Very well. I am sure he can remain out of sight, and perhaps he can make himself useful between classes, clearing away and so forth."

"Good! So that's settled." Minerva stood. "I'll see you at lunch?"

He nodded. He had declined to join Gareth and Hermione for lunch at the Three Broomsticks, but at any rate, it was best he remain at the castle, regardless of his health. He was Deputy Headmaster, after all, and with ten new members of staff, a few of whom had only arrived at the castle in the last couple days, it was important to be available to assist them in their preparations for the coming term. He couldn't leave it all to Minerva; she was already making accommodations for his condition. He'd pull his own weight and make sure she did not regret that she'd made him her deputy.

After lunch, Severus dutifully followed Poppy to the infirmary, where she cast the diagnostic spells that Melina had prescribed. He did not want to be harassed about it, so he decided it was better to go on his own than to wait for Poppy or Minerva to remind him. Poppy seemed pleased with the readings, which she transferred to parchment to owl to Melina. When she asked him to come to the infirmary to take his next dose of Nagini potion, and then again when he took his evening dose of Ferron's Elixir, he agreed. She wanted to cast diagnostics before and after he took the potions, and said that they were reaching a "delicate phase" in his treatment.

"And how was the Ferron's Elixir this morning?" Poppy asked before he could escape out the door. "Did it still cause nausea?"

"I took the antiemetic potion a half hour before the Ferron's Elixir," Severus replied, "and I was still nauseous, though perhaps not as badly as yesterday evening. It was certainly better than it was yesterday morning."

"Hopefully, by tomorrow morning you will be hardly nauseous at all, even without the antiemetic, though it would probably be best that you continue to take that until you have finished with the Elixir. I think I should see you take that dose, as well, and I'll also come by your room on Tuesday morning when you take the Elixir and your last dose of the Nagini potion...unless you prefer to come to me."

"Tuesday? I thought I would be done with it tomorrow. Three days." He hadn't believed he would still be taking it once classes began, though the Ferron's Elixir was worse and he didn't know when he'd be finished with that one.

Poppy shook her head. "If you had taken your first dose on Friday evening, you would have been finished with it on Monday night, but you'll still have one more dose to take on Tuesday morning. The Ferron's Elixir you'll be on for a few more days yet, but we may need to adjust the dosage. I spoke with Melina this morning, and she said that she would come by the castle to check on you tomorrow afternoon. I presume you will be in?"

"Of course. The Hogwarts Express will be arriving at five. Before this happened, I had planned to meet it, although now I believe I will leave it to Hagrid and Rath, that new assistant of his."

"I am sure that would be fine," Poppy replied. "Hagrid enjoys meeting the train, and it's not something that Minerva usually did when she was deputy."

Severus bristled. He had not told her in order to be reassured of his decision. Indeed, he believed that he should make it a regular practice to meet the Express...and to see it off, as well. "I am not Minerva McGonagall...and she is not Dumbledore."

Poppy's eyebrows rose. "I simply meant that it isn't as though the students would notice and find it odd if you weren't there. It's probably a fine idea to meet the train. And good for you to put your own stamp on the job, so to speak. But you'll meet the firsties when they get to the castle and give them their welcome, and that's what's important."

"Hmph. Probably send them screaming back into the lake...without the boats," Severus replied moodily.

"You got them all up to the Great Hall for the Sorting last September," Poppy said with a laugh. "I don't remember hearing tell of any of them fleeing, by water or otherwise."

"Last year, I was . . . distracted. I barely said two words to them in welcome or to prepare them for the Sorting. The Dar– er, Riddle had called me that afternoon. My mind was elsewhere. I did not spare any thought to welcoming them...nor to frightening them off," he added with a slight, wry smile.

"I still remember arriving at Hogwarts for the first time. It was a windy day, and old Ogg...who seemed quite terrifying when you first met him, but who was actually quite a kind soul, if a bit gruff and tactless...old Ogg had trouble keeping us all in the boats, the water was so choppy. By the time we reached the castle, I was soaked through and my teeth were chattering, whether from fear or cold, I'm still not sure," Poppy said with a chuckle. "Albus was Deputy Headmaster and he set us at our ease. He met us at the docks down below and helped each of us from the boats, then dried us all off. I'd been quite nervous, but by the time we got up to the Great Hall for the Sorting, I was still nervous, but happily, excitedly nervous and not sick nervous. I understand that when Dippet was the Deputy, he used to actually take the boats with the students. Minerva was welcoming, but rather stern and serious, I believe. So each Deputy has had a different way of greeting the first years. You don't have to do it the same as any of them."

"I will speak of the Sorting, then," Severus said thoughtfully, "as Minerva always did, but I do not believe I can be . . . welcoming. I believe that if I were to attempt that, far from setting the little dunderheads at their ease, I'd have them diving for cover and wishing they were Squibs." The corner of his mouth twitched, inviting her to appreciate his joke.

Poppy grinned. "Oh, I doubt that very much, Severus. As I say, be yourself, which isn't as bad as you seem to think...if you tried to act like Albus, you probably would frighten them!...but I think you can be welcoming in your own way. Think about what you might want to hear if you were arriving as a first-year this September, and think about what is important to you about Hogwarts and what you'd like them to value in their experience here. Half of what you say will likely be forgotten within minutes, anyway, with the excitement of the Sorting and joining a House, but you can make a subtle impact on them." She looked up at him speculatively. "You know, I'll never forget that speech that Blaise made about you when he accepted his Merlin. You managed, despite your double role, to say some powerful things to your Slytherins over the years. I think you could do the same with the firsties. And everyone knows about your 'stoppering death' speech. You have quite a way with words when it suits you, Severus."

Severus inclined his head in acknowledgement of what Poppy had said. Despite not having wanted her reassurance, now that he had it, he was glad of it. He was pleased, as well, that she seemed to think he had a way with words. It shouldn't matter to him what the Hufflepuff matron thought of him, but she had become something of a friend, certainly a loyal one, and her good opinion warmed him.

"I will do my best not to frighten them for a change, then," he said, a glint in his eye, but a humorous one. He paused. "I will wait until their first day in my classroom to do that."

Poppy just chuckled at that, then as he headed toward the door, reminded him once more to come to the infirmary to take his next dose of potion. Severus acknowledged her with a nod, then walked down to the Defence Against Dark Arts office to speak with Albus.

"I'm glad to be of help, Severus," Albus said, after the two had finished discussing what kind of password wards he would set for the Potions office. "I can't imagine that this is the way that you wanted to start your first year of teaching free of Riddle."

"It is what it is," Severus said shortly.

"Is there anything else I can help you with? If there is, simply say the word."

"No . . . except . . ."

"Yes?" Albus asked expectantly.

"You are aware that Zabini wants to put up another plaque memorialising Professor Sinistra, this one in the dungeons near Slytherin House."

Albus nodded. "Minerva mentioned it."

"She has left it up to me, since it is in Slytherin's area," Severus said.

"Have you come to a decision?"

Severus sighed and slouched in his chair. "No. If I approve it, I will be unhappy with my decision. I do not want to see it daily, to be frank, and I don't approve of the wording they have chosen for the plaque, which I think could be divisive. I also think that the plaque would risk eventually becoming meaningless for others, an empty memorial that no one really sees any longer because they see it every day."

"I understand that."

"But if I disapprove it," Severus continued, "it could seem . . . disrespectful of Sinistra, for one. It could also create some tension with Zabini and his greatly enlarged family. Looking toward the future, I would prefer to avoid that."

"I see," Albus said with a nod. "I think that Zabini would respect whatever decision you reached, although I understand your desire not to appear to stop him from memorialising Aurora. And I also agree that some might find your decision disrespectful to her, though I know that it would not be that." He thought for a moment. "You know, Severus, I have an idea . . . it's up to you, of course, but we are planning on having Aurora's portrait done. We've had some tentative discussions with Renwick Douglas about it, but we had not made any firm plans. Perhaps you might participate in the commissioning of the portrait, pay for some portion of it, if you like, and hang that somewhere in Slytherin. You could explain to Zabini that you, as Head of Slytherin, are providing the portrait as a tribute to Professor Sinistra's life, therefore the other memorial plaque would be . . . an inappropriate addition. You would, of course, word it differently, but he would surely respect that, as would everyone else, and no one could believe that you were slighting her memory."

Severus considered the suggestion. He was unsure whether he was prepared to see a portrait of Professor Sinistra regularly, but it did appeal to him despite that...certainly more than the plaque Zabini had suggested. It would not have to mark the spot where she had died, for one, and any tag or plaque attached to the portrait could simply identify her. People would still remember her and her sacrifice, but they could also see her as the Hogwarts teacher she was. That raised a question.

"How will the portrait be done, since she is not available to sit for it?" Severus asked. While it was possible to paint a wizarding portrait of an actual person after they had died, it was more difficult to do it then than it was to do it when they were alive and the artist could draw upon them for the portrait charms, which gave the image some semblance of the individual's personality and, for the most complex portraits, even some of the individual's memories and experiences.

"Several people have agreed to provide Pensieve memories for Renwick to work with," Albus explained. "We will be asking one or two of the students who were present at her death to loan us their memories of that moment. Even Firenze has agreed to loan a few memories. If you have any that you would like to contribute, I am sure he could use them."

"It does sound like a possibility," Severus said slowly. He had money to spare after being awarded two Orders of Merlin, but he knew that wizarding portraits were expensive, especially those done by a sought-after artist such as Renwick Douglas. "How much would be appropriate for me to contribute to the commission in order to have a say over where it is hung?"

Albus smiled. "I am sure that Minerva wouldn't set a price tag upon that...if you wish it for Slytherin House or for anywhere near Slytherin, your classroom, or your office, I am sure she would agree even if you didn't give a single Knut toward it."

"They don't come cheaply, though," Severus said. "I do not wish to feel that others are paying for something that I am claiming."

"Of course not. But Renwick is Minerva's nephew-in-law...he married Branwen; you remember her, Severus...and he is not charging his usual rate for it. I think, though, that that's something you should discuss with Minerva, if you do prefer that alternative. We had been going to hang it near the entrance to the Astronomy Tower, but the dungeons would be fine, too."

"I will speak to her about it, then. Thank you."

Albus smiled brightly. "I'm glad I could help! Please stop by any time, Severus. I'm always available to you."

Severus nodded and stood. He didn't think he would make it a habit of stopping by without a reason for it, but he was glad now that he had seen Albus. He could manage to work with him, he thought, even if he did still resent Albus's faked death and all that went with that.

Albus stood and hesitated before speaking. "I also imagine that you thought that once you were as free of me as you were of Riddle, you would not still be contending with curse injuries."

Severus bristled. "Do not imagine that you know how I feel, Dumbledore. No, I did not believe that I would still be dealing with such things, but because I believed that I would be dead, as well as the two of you. And whatever our relationship was before you died, you are not Riddle, and I resent your presumption that I equated the two of you. Or do you forget that I mourned you? Or do you believe that I mourn him?" he asked bitterly.

"Of course not," Albus said softly. "I didn't mean that you equated us, not precisely, only that we both were . . . tied to that previous existence and to your double role, that's all. And you and I did not always have the easiest of relationships, and although our relationship has changed now with the end of the war, it is still not easy."

Severus could not deny that, but he did not respond.

"I'm no longer even your headmaster, Severus. I am a colleague. A simple teaching colleague, not even a fellow Head of House. Perhaps we can have a fresh start."

Severus snorted. "Just like that? A fresh start. Forget the years...forget the years and what I did, and what I did for you? Forget all of that? Forget the lies of the previous two years? Forget that I thought that I . . . that you . . ." Severus swallowed hard, then continued. "Forget that I thought we were friends despite everything, forget that I thought I cared about you?"

"No, of course not. We can't do that. But I would like us to start fresh because I do care for you, because I care for you no less now than I did on the day that my heart was stopped. And because you mourned me." Albus looked at Severus with soft eyes. "It was not an easy thing to do, to see that and not be able to even offer you comfort, let alone to tell you that I still lived. It was the only way that we saw. And we did want to try to save you from the Vow, and for more than just an ignominious death at Riddle's hand in the end."

"I know all that. I know all that, and I wouldn't change any of it. But knowing it and understanding it has nothing to do with my feelings about it. It probably doesn't make any sense at all, but it doesn't change anything."

"All right," Albus said with a nod. "I know it's still hard for you; you've made that clear. But if I can do anything to make it easier, please tell me."

Severus averted his gaze. A part of him wanted to do as Albus suggested, let go and start fresh. He knew, too, that he wouldn't feel so hurt and so resentful if he didn't still care about Albus. Part of it was also that he felt he had been made a fool of in his grief. He didn't like feeling that strongly about someone that he could grieve as he had. As he had Lily, for years. And it seemed that his grief was always inextricably entwined with feelings of guilt, as well, and that was even worse. But he did not wish Albus away, or dead, and he did know that Albus cared for him, despite knowing all of the terrible things he had done.

"We shall see," Severus said finally. "It isn't even the first of September yet." He returned his gaze to meet Albus's and allowed himself a slight sigh. "I don't think I have the energy to get well, to carry on with my Hogwarts duties, and to work on any relationships...with you or with anyone else."

Albus smiled slightly. "Take care of yourself first, Severus. Get well. And Minerva tells me that you and Gareth are becoming friends. That's a good thing. You probably don't want my advice on anything right now, but I hope that you do develop more friendships. Gareth is a fine young wizard, and probably a good tonic for you. Get out and become more friendly with some of your colleagues, as well. You aren't constrained by your double role any longer...and not just with me. I do hope you'll visit me again, but I also hope you'll take the opportunity to become more sociable with other members of staff. You'll be fit again soon enough. Try to enjoy your new life."

"I doubt my colleagues are looking forward to a new sociable Severus Snape," Severus replied derisively.

"You may be pleasantly surprised, my boy. Give people a chance, hmm? And yourself!"

"Hmpf. We'll see. I have to go meet Teller; I'm expecting her in a few minutes." He paused with his hand on the doorknob. "Thank you for your help today. It was useful."

"Of course. I'll meet you after dinner to set your password wards, then?"

"We can walk down together," Severus agreed.

NEXT

Chapter Nine: A Delicate Phase

Monday, 31 August 1998

With the start of the school year almost upon him, Severus undergoes another examination as he enters a delicate phase of his treatment. He receives an owl from Hermione and anticipates a visit from her.

Characters: Severus Snape, Poppy Pomfrey, Filius Flitwick, Twiskett, others

Author's Note: If you like Filius Flitwick or just like little ficlets, I recently posted a new Flitwick flashfic, "Awkward," in the set of "Cheering Charms" here on the Petulant Poetess. "Cheering Charms" is a set of loosely related fluffy flashfics focussing on Filius Flitwick. (Try saying that five times fast!)