Pierced

He woke with a start when the curtains around his bed were separated with a screeching rattle.

"And how are we today, Mr Snape? We do look better, I must say."

Poppy was standing at the foot of the bed, peering at him. And he knew her: she would look for any trace of weakness, and if she found one – imaginary or otherwise – he would be confined to this bed for unknown amount of time.

"I am very well, thank you," Severus said. "How are you, Madam Pomfrey?"

Poppy chuckled.

"Snarky this morning, are we? If you're anything like your father, that's a good sign."

Without any warning, she yanked off his duvet and threw two quick spells that fizzed over his body, glowed green and disappeared. As the spells danced over him, she looked him over – her gaze lingering on his chest and head – and then nodded to no one in particular. She did so without once meeting his eyes. It was an odd habit of hers that she always displayed when she evaluated her patients. He had always found it disconcerting.

"Any aches or pains?" she asked.

He had. But only minor ones. The burns still stung a bit, but they were mending, and his face felt normal. He gingerly put his hand on his head, hoping his hair had grown back. It hadn't. It was still cropped close to his head. He would have to get used to having short hair. He didn't want to, but on the other hand it was habit, more than anything, that had made him wear it long. Habit created by the fact that his long hair had irritated his father no end.

"Not really, no – "

"Good. We were worried for a while. You've slept for two days."

"It's Wednesday?"

"No." Poppy smiled at him. "It's Thursday morning. We've all been very worried. I've had my hands full trying to stop your friends from sneaking in. Mr Malfoy has been the worst." Poppy, having said that, frowned and pursed her lips so hard they turned white around the edges and continued, "Narcissa Malfoy sent me a Howler! A Howler! Would you believe the nerve of that woman?" Poppy fluffed his pillow in such an aggressive way that Severus hauled himself into a sitting position to avoid having his head shaken.

"Friends? And why would Draco's mother send you a Howler?" Severus asked, since Poppy's agitation made it impossible to sort out what she was talking about.

"She claimed that Hogwarts was trying to cover up that you were hurt by that beast of Hagrid's. And that I was helping by keeping the severity of your injuries hidden."

Poppy's voice was shrill from indignation, and she continued her annoyed muttering until a knock on the door interrupted her rant. With a last glance at him, she stalked to the door and opened it. Severus leaned back against the pillow and looked at his bedside table. It was covered with an enormous number of ... things. He sat up again and moved closer.

A large box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans was the closest item. A card with an untidy scrawl he identified as Weasley's was attached to it. He picked it up and read:

I would steer clear of the yellow ones, if I was you.

Ron and Ginny Weasley

Severus looked at the box. He used to like Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. When she was still alive, his mum had always bought them for him at Christmas, and they had had fun sharing the box and eating the beans. First they had divided the content in the box into two piles: those that looked like they would taste good, and those that looked like they would taste bad. Each pile was divided in two so that they both got their fair share of good and bad. Then they ate. The system was dodgy at best. He couldn't help but smile at the memory. He hadn't thought of that in years. When he reached for the box, his gaze fell on another item: a single chocolate-frog box. Bemused, he reached for that box instead, opened it and deftly caught the frog before it got away.

And then he saw the card.

His own face was looking back at him with cold black eyes, a cocked brow and a sneer. As he looked at the image of himself, it gave him a haughty glare, turned and left the picture.

He read the text underneath the now-empty portrait.

Severus Snape,

Serving as a spy for the Order of the Phoenix, he managed to infiltrate the inner circle of Tom Riddle and eventually become one of his most trusted followers. He died 2 May, 1998, at the age of 38, by the hand of Tom Riddle. At the time Severus Snape was attempting to find Harry Potter and provide him with essential information so that victory could be assured. He succeeded in his mission, as he conveyed the information to Harry Potter just moments before he died.

Severus read the card again. He was pleased that the card made it sound as if he had managed to reach Potter, rather than that Severus having been found dying by the boy. 'One of the greatest wizards of our time' pleased him the most though. As far as he knew, only Albus had anything like that printed on his card. He had gotten some of the recognition he had deserved. Even if it was on a Wizard collectible card. He could frame it. No one would find it strange, him having a picture of his father.

In the box was also another note with an even untidier scrawl.

You probably have it already, but just in case.

Harry Potter

The card was a gift from Potter.

Severus sank back against the pillows and ate the frog while staring at the two notes, not knowing what to think about Potter. He looked at the bedside table again and took inventory of the gifts. It seemed like everyone in the Care of Magical Creatures class had sent him something. He had even got a book from Mr Ollivander. A thick, worn, leather-bound tome with the alluring title The Magic Woods of Celtic Lore.

The last gift was a small green package with silver ribbons. It was, by far, the most elaborately wrapped gift of the lot, and Severus couldn't help feeling curious. He reached for it and unwrapped the pretty package. Inside, he found an earring with a silver dragon hanging from it.

An earring? Who would give him an earring? He didn't even have his ears pierced.

He looked for a note and he found one in the lid of the box, the message written in small, precise letters.

To my saviour

LB

He looked at the earring again. It was a ridiculous gift. It was stupid and inane. And no one who knew him would ever have given him something like this. He held the offending item between his thumb and forefinger, wondering what to do with it. He wanted to throw it away, but if he did, he would ensure that Lavender would feel slighted.

At that point, he became aware of the two raised voices over by the door.

"Mr Malfoy. I know that you're worried about your friend, but I can assure you – "

"I suppose I'll have to owl Mother again. Something is obviously wrong and – "

Draco's slow drawl was designed to be annoying, and Poppy's upset huff made Severus realise that without his intervention, he would have to endure listening to the two of them quarrel for some time.

Severus lay down again, pulled the duvet up to his chin and made an effort to look forlorn.

"Madame Pomfrey. I would like to thank Draco for his help the other day. If I may?" Severus said, making a stab at sounding pleading.

Poppy turned her head and looked at him. Her expression of annoyance disappeared and was replaced with one of indulgence instead.

"Of course you may. But not too long, mind you."

She looked back at Draco, straightened her neck and then – with another huff and a few unidentifiable mutterings – she stepped aside and let him in.

Draco, in turn, gave Poppy a haughty look as he swept past her. He pulled up a chair, sat down and put the big box he was carrying on the floor.

"Merlin, you're good. Very impressive, I must say," he said.

Severus didn't even bother to pretend that he didn't know what Draco was talking about.

"It got you in, didn't it? Has no one ever told you, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar?"

Draco smirked.

"Your father did. He had a bit of a rant about it in the Slytherin common room once. I assume he was trying to save time by ranting at all of us together, instead of one at a time. Not very convincing, though, from a man in the habit of blowing up rose bushes when he was annoyed."

Severus cocked a deliberate eyebrow at Draco, who paled.

"Oh, I'm – I'm sorry. I liked him. It hasn't really sunk in that he's gone."

Severus didn't answer. He shrugged and looked away instead.

"I think Madam Pomfrey was impressed with you the other day," Severus said, wanting to get away from the subject of his supposed death and the uncomfortable silence.

"Yeah." Draco paused. "About that: Pomfrey told McGonagall what happened, and she thinks I should try for a career as a Healer instead of one in banking."

Severus looked at Draco, who was fidgeting and not meeting his eye. Not many Healers came from the House of Slytherin. For the most part, they came from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Draco must have done well, though, to have Poppy bothering to speak for him. As far as he knew, she had only done that twice before.

"Well, banking is prudent, I suppose, but I would say becoming a Healer would be even more so," Severus said. "What did McGonagall say?"

"She sided with Madam Pomfrey when they spoke to me, and she'd already sent Mother an owl about it. Mother sent McGonagall a return owl carrying a Howler. The Howler literately hit McGonagall's breakfast yesterday morning." Draco sniggered. "Mother hates the idea of me, and I quote, working in and with filth."

"I take it this particular career choice wouldn't be to your family's liking, then?"

"No. It wouldn't go down well at all. Not enough money in it, for starters." Draco stopped sniggering and was now staring at his hands, fiddling with the cuffs of his robes.

"How would your Father have felt about you being a wandmaker, do you think?" Draco asked.

Severus chose to tell him the truth. "I don't care. His expectations never meant anything to me."

"I might like being a Healer," Draco said.

Severus snorted. "How very decisive of you."

"You sarcastic git! I might be disinherited, for all you know." Draco cheeks turned a pale pink.

Severus couldn't help himself. He laughed. "No, you will not. You forget that Father told me all about you and your parents. Your mother dotes on you."

"And I would have to change my curriculum," said Draco, looking petulant. "Much more work."

Severus's retort died somewhere between his brain and his lips as he looked at Draco's burning cheeks and angry scowl. The boy wanted this. Something had sparked an interest in Draco that day. Draco, who used to be one of those children who was good at most of what they did but not passionate about anything. This, Draco wanted.

"Do it then," Severus said.

Draco looked up at him, slack-jawed and wide eyed. Then he visibly relaxed and snapped his jaws together again. "It isn't like my parents' choices have been all that great, is it?"

"Not especially, no," Severus said, amused by Draco's realistic view of his parents, far removed from the hero-worship of his father that had been almost painful to witness. Lucius didn't deserve that kind of admiration, as far as Severus was concerned.

"So, you are going to listen to McGongall and Pomfrey, then? Take their advice?"

Draco nodded and smoothed down his already smooth robes.

"Yeah. I never did want to work with numbers anyway."

"What will you tell your parents?"

"I'll lie. I'll tell them when I leave Hogwarts. They can't do anything about it then."

Severus nodded. "You should get McGonagall to help you with that," he said.

"You think she will?"

"Of course she will. She'll love it. She sent that owl, didn't she?"

Draco smiled, a broad smile that was too big for his thin face, giving him a clownish look. It felt strange for some reason, and Severus realised that Draco very rarely had looked happy in the past. He had sneered or smirked, but seldom smiled.

"Do you know why your mother sent a Howler to Madam Pomfrey by the way?" Severus asked, remembering Poppy's agitation before Draco arrived.

Draco laughed, this time with real amusement.

"So, Pomfrey got a Howler too, did she? I wrote Mother about what happened to you. She wrote back, something about a life-debt to your father and us having a duty to protect you."

Narcissa did owe him, of course. He had wondered how he could use that in the guise of being his own son. It seemed that it would be easier than expected, since she seemed to feel responsible for him already.

"Mother sent you this. I almost forgot."

Draco retrieved the box from the floor and put it on the bed.

"Open it," he said, looking expectant. "I told her your robes were burnt to ashes."

"Rags would have been a more accurate description."

"Ashes sounded better. More dramatic." Draco laughed again.

Severus couldn't help smirking at Draco as he opened the box.

Blue wizard dress-robes were placed – folded so neatly only the magic of a house-elf could achieve the effect – on top of the items inside.

It was, without a doubt, silk. Spider silk, even. The kind Lucius favoured. He placed the robes on the bed. They were the kind of robes so expensive he would never be able to afford them himself. He ran his hand over the silver embroidery around the collar, wondering when he would ever have the opportunity to wear something so exclusive. With a last stroke of the hand, he tore his gaze away from it and looked in the box again, convinced nothing in it could compete with the robes.

Next, he found two plain black robes, the kind he could use every day – made of wool. The quality of the wool cloth was so soft it could have been made of the finest cotton. He suspected he would find that they didn't itch either. He was pleased. The robes were also welcome additions, since he had ended up in Potions, after all.

That was when saw the book. Because it was without doubt a book, wrapped in velvet cloth. He lifted it out of the box, put it on his lap and removed the protective wrapping.

He had admired it so many times. He had read it – reverently – when he visited Malfoy Manor. It was the Biblia Magyck, believed to have been written by Merlin himself. Three known copies existed in the world and only one in Britain.

Only one had had a private owner.

And now it was his.

He opened it, and it was like he remembered it: the historiated initials alone were alluring enough to keep his attention for hours. It was always an animal depicted, together with a man Severus assumed was Merlin. And the texts were equally astounding. He turned the vellum pages with reverent care.

"What is it?" Draco asked.

Severus's first impulse was to clutch the book to his chest, not letting it go, but then – with great reluctance – he let Draco take it.

"She gave you this?" Draco took the book, opened it and thumbed through it with such lack of regard that Severus retrieved the book again, tempted to smack Draco hard over the head.

"Sorry about that, but at least you got some decent robes. And you could always sell the book. If Father bought it, it's probably worth a lot."

Severus repressed an urge to inform Draco of the greatness of it, the historical value and the magic hidden within. He had no intention of informing anyone of the treasure that had been given him.

"I can help pack the rest of your stuff, if you like," Draco said and nodded at the things on the bedside table.

Severus hesitated, surprised by the offer.

"Yes. Yes, please," he said.

Severus wrapped up the book again, and together, he and Draco started to gather the gifts, placing them in the box. Severus was putting one of the black robes aside for later when Draco, sounding disgusted, asked, "What's this? You wear earrings?"

Severus looked up to see him standing by the bedside table, holding the earring in the palm of his hand.

"No, it's a gift."

"From whom? And what was he thinking?" Draco grimaced.

"Brown gave it to me. As a thank you gesture, I assume."

Draco fell quiet, looking at the earring for a long time, turning it over a couple of times, wrinkling his nose. "Oh," he said.

"And I will have to wear it."

Draco shuddered. "But it's tacky."

"And? I want to get at Zabini." He was not going to admit to Draco that he intended to protect Lavender from those who wanted to take advantage.

Draco smirked.

"That's a good thing: getting at Zabini. Anything I can do to help?"

Severus contemplated the question for a moment.

"The seating arrangements in Potions," Severus said. "I think Brown will make a good addition to our table."

Draco bit his lower lip and frowned.

"Are you going to be there, then? I think Pomfrey might plan to keep you here for a bit longer," said Draco.

"What you plan and what actually happens aren't always the same thing, are they?" Severus answered. "And you are also going to pierce my ear."

"No!"

"Yes, you are. I told you I need to wear that earring."

"That's a bit excessive, don't you think? She's a Mudblood. She isn't worth that kind of sacrifice."

"Don't use that word." Severus heard himself growl at Draco. He made an attempt to suppress his anger when Draco took a defensive step back, eyes widening. Severus pulled himself together enough to continue.

"It's worth it if it gives me an edge over Zabini."

Draco gave a derisive sniff.

"You saved her life. How much of an edge do you reckon you need?"

Severus became so annoyed, he wanted to shake Draco. Pretty-boy Draco who – like his obnoxious father – had no idea what it was like to be ugly and poor. Severus bit down, hard, on the inside of his cheek, the pain helping him to regain some balance.

"You always need an extra edge. Saving her was chance. She might think – or she might even have been told by now – that I would have done it for anyone in the group. And I probably would have."

Severus pointed at the idiotic piece of jewellery Draco was still holding.

"Wearing that, however, will show that I care about her opinion of me. Care that she thanked me. You should know these things. You're Slytherin too."

Severus fell quiet, and so did Draco. Severus assumed that he was trying to look serious, but he was failing. Draco was, in fact, looking amused.

"Her opinion," said Draco. "Right. Good thinking." He got to his feet, checking that Madam Pomfrey wasn't around. "Let's fix that ear, then."

Draco drew his wand. He looked at the earring, turned it over and tapped it with his wand.

"Extendere spiculus."

Severus was not pleased when he saw how the earring sprouted a long, sharp needle. Draco smirked at him.

"This will make things easier," said Draco.

"What are you doing?" asked Severus. "You are not using that needle on me. Use a piercing hex!"

"I don't do those. I don't do searing or slashing curses, either. Put it down to bad experience."

"But sticking a needle through my earlobe isn't a problem for you?"

"By comparison? No."

And without hesitation, Draco waved his wand again. Severus didn't have time to react before his whole body became stiff and immobile, and he fell back against the pillows on the bed.

Draco's head and shoulders came into Severus's field of vision as Draco leaned over him, taking a firm hold on Severus's ear.

"Sorry about this. Can't have you flinching. It would be a bloodbath, and I don't think Pomfrey would like that."

And, with that said, he stabbed the needle through Severus's earlobe.

Comment: Extendere spiculus is my invention. It hopefully means something close to lengthen needle.