E Pluribus Unum

A/N - I know it\'s been dark lately and will get a little darker as we go, but hang on, there is always hope. Kate, thanks for putting up with my appaling sense of humor and bad grammar.

Helen - You can never read too much.


Chapter 27 – The High Price of Intelligence

Severus couldn’t remember a time before pain, before the searing agony that coursed through his veins had begun. He only had consciousness of the white-hot pain and the darkness; perhaps there was nothing else.
He writhed on the stone floor; the cold stone was a soothing contrast to the fires that raged inside his body. Sinuous forms writhed through his blurred vision and he gasped for breath, trying to force oxygen into his lungs despite the stabbing pains this caused. He knew he had to breathe and there was something else he had to do.

He couldn’t remember what it was though. Oh yes -- he had to live to see Kathryn again. He hadn’t said good-bye; there was something wrong about that, though he couldn’t remember why. He just knew that he had to get back to her.

He twisted around somehow and found himself looking into a pair of cornflower blue eyes. He knew those eyes from somewhere, but he couldn’t recall a name.

“Severus.” Yes, that was his name; he recognized that much at least. The voice was young -- a chie the thought, but strange somehow. He tried to respond but it came out as a choking sound. “Severus, do you love her?” The question was dangerous but he didn’t know why and for some reason he trusted the voice.

“Yes.” He croaked out as best he could.

“Then don’t be afraid.” There was movement and then, finally, a blessed surcease of awareness.

He opened his eyes again and the ceiling of the Hospital Wing greeted his eyes. He blinked slowly, nure ure how he had gotten here. He turned his head and there was Kathryn, curled up in a plaid wingchair like a child, fast asleep. Her chocolate colored hair was fanned out around her face, tangled and greasy. Her skin was pale and tear tracks ran down her cheeks. He reached for her, wanting nothing in the world as much as to touch her. He wanted to reassure her, make the sorrow etched into her face go away.

“Kathryn.” His whisper was harsh and she jerked awake and was at his side in an instant. Her hands on his face, her eyes searching his,

“Sev?” Her voice wavered and it was rough from crying.

“I hate that nickname.” He whispered back to her and she burst into tears, burying her face in his shoulder and sobbing. He fell back asleep wondering why she was so upset, but being too tired to seek the answer.

The voices were coming in and out of his conscious mind like waves lapping at the shore. Albus, Minerva, Poppy and Kathryn: he identified the speakers with a feeling of accomplishment. They came into sharper focus suddenly and he guessed he was awake, despite the lassitude that possessed his limbs.

“We cannot be sure that he will ever fully recover.” Albus was saying. “So many hours under Cruciatus might have broken his mind.”

“No, he was lucid when he woke.” Kathryn’s voice was sure, but there was pain in it and exhaustion so deep it made him hurt inside.

“He has suffered that curse more than any other recorded person; if anyone can resist it, Severus can.” Minerva’s voice was brisk and he felt pleased that she was defending him.

“Minerva, there is no immunity to be built up nst nst it, it’s not the flu.” Poppy scoffed and Severus was annoyed by her comment; did she think he was some weakling?

“He knew me, he spoke to me, and his mind is still all there.” Kathryn insisted. Good woman -- smart, lovely; yes, he could depend on her to defend him, and it was nice.

“As far as I can determine he suffered Cruciatus for more than eight hours. The Longbottoms went mad after only six.” Poppy replied. “I just want you to be prepared, that’s all.”

“Even if his mind is well, his body may very well suffer aftefectfects for some time.” Albus added, sounding far older and frailer than Severus had ever heard him.

“Do you mind, I am trying to sleep?” Severus finally interjected, as the voices were starting to give him a headache.

“Severus!” Poppy’s face appeared in his line of vision and he found his lips twisting into a small smile.

“Were you expecting someone else?” He retorted, feeling far too weak to bandy words with her.

Kathryn took his hand and smiled at him, her eyes full of a quiet joy. Minerva and Albus drifted into view, Minerva’s face triumphant and Albus just looking relieved.

“How are you feeling?” Poppy was back to her usual fluttery efficiency, checking him and re-checking him, muttering as she waved her wand over him.

“Awful, but nowhere near as badly as I did before.” He retained vague recollections of the torture he had undergone and was grateful not to remember more.

“You are in far better shape than you have any right to be.” Poppy began to smile as she worked over him and her shoulders relaxed as tension began to drain from her body. Albus seemed to gain some strength as she spoke, straightening and allowing his face to relax into a small smile.

He allowed himself to drift on the tide of their voices, relaxing and dozing as they cared for him. Soon the voices had faded and he opened his eyes to see Kathryn seated beside his bed again.

“You need rest.” He admonished her. Her eyes looked bruised and her face was painfully drawn.

“I will rest soon, love. I just want to sit here a while more.” Her voice was shaky and he reached for her hand. Her fingers were cold and he clutched them tightly.

“All I could think was that I had to get back to you.” He recalled the cold stone floor and the moments of quiet desperation, but they seemed distant right now.

“You scared me, Severus.” She released the words almost as though it pained her to say them. He searched her face and wondered at her tone. “I thought I had lost you and I hadn’t even had a chance to say good-bye.” Tears began to tumble down her cheeks and she buried her head in her free arm. He clung hard to the other hand.

“Payback for last May.” He joked and she looked up at him in shock. He smirked at her and she laughed at him through her tears.

“I love you so much, you horrible man.” She was laughing and crying at the same time and he fell asleep again to the sound of her voice.