Shadows In The Rain

Disclaimer: Do not own any of the characters recognized from Harry Potter. Original characters are Lucinda and Angelina Moonstar.

In the weeks following the dance, Angelina and Severus had returned to their routines with a few minor adjustments. Angelina assisted Severus in the afternoon per her previous position, but she also spent a few hours after dinner completing her assignments in his office or privante living room. They spent their spare time talking and settling into a comfortable rhythm. Dumbledore, Harry and Hermione noticed that the two spent an exorbitant amount of time together. Hermione became Angelina\'s confidant when she revealed her feelings for Severus and the kiss they shared at the dance. She had caught the two of them watching each other enough to sense the attraction. Unlike the male of the species( at least at Hogwarts, anyway) the females saw Professor Snape for what he was - a conundrum, a mystery. man man was not pretty but handsome in an exceedingly severe manner. Waxen complexion, formidably sharp features, obsidian eyes, silky long hair the color of coal. He towered over all at the school, except Hagrid and under his onyx black robes, he was broad shouldered, wiry muscled and taut. He exuded sex from every pore visible or otherwise and he did not have a clue he had this affect on females. Toss in the fact that he was anti-social, opinionated, callous, a Deatheater and in general, the man your parents warned you to stay away from. In other words, he was perfect in an imperfect world, the ultimate bad boy personified. Hermione could understand the attraction. She had fancied him herself at one time but had moved on to Viktor and now was happily unattached.
Albus Dumbledore - respected both individuals greatly, trusting them to act appropriately. He was delighted that Severus was experiencing love for the first time - he deserved it and it kept him pliable to his plans for Voldemort. For Dumbledore, there was always an ulterior motive - he would claim to have only the welfare of the Wizarding world in mind but never doubt - he was really planning for himself.
Harry - trusted.... he was simply happy for the two of them. He knew that Professor Snape would not intentionally hurt Angelina and that she would want to wait to go any further until no one could separate them. Yearly battles with Voldemort made Harry realize that you had to seize your happiness in the moment.
The Christmas holidays were approaching rapidly, the only students remaining at the castle this year were the four friends. The Golden Trio had decided to spend as much time together as possible before graduation. At that time, after a week relaxing at The Burrow they would be going in three different directions. Harry would be going into Auror training immediately and Hermione would begin at the University during their summer session. Ron was still undecided as to what he wanted to pursue.
By the third day of Christmas vacation, the lake was frozen solid and the first storm of the season was covering the ground with a luxurious blanket of ice crystals. The castle and it\'s intanttants had settled into a peaceful, relaxing routine. Harry and Ron were playing Wizards Chess almost nonstop. Hermione and Angelina enjoyed the tranquility - reading, chatting or wandering up and down the lesser used staircases.
Two days before Christmas, Snape felt his dark mark burning agonizingly and knew he was being summoned. Gathering his cloak and gloves, he flooed to let Dumbledore know that he would be leaving. Dumbledore reminded him to be careful and contact him as soon as he returned. Snape nodded and left with a pop, as the wards were lowered for him. It fell to Harry to let Angelina know that Severus was gone. He could see the anxiety in her eyes and tried to remind her that Snape always came back alright. She smiled and gave him a hug.
On Christmas eve, the third day Severus had been gone, Angelina began to fret visibly again. This was longer than she could remember him being away. She felt that something was wrong but did not want to say anything to anyone else. She was helping decorate the last tree when she heard a commotion coming from the front of the castle. Looking out the window she could see Hagrid Har Harry carrying a still form across the front grounds. When she realized it was Severus, she ran through the halls until she caught up with them on their way to the medical wing. By the time they got there, Dumbledore and Minerva were waiting for them. Poppy asked Hagrid to put him down on the first bed and she began her examination. They all waited silently, afraid to utter a sound. Angelina looked over at the man she was in love with and shivered at how pale and wan he was laying against the hospitals crisp, antiseptic sheets. He began slowly turning his head and groaned as Poppy continued. Finally, she pulled the curtain closed to finish her assessment in private. Before discussing his injuries, she tended to her patient, administering pain potions, trying to make him more comfortable. After she finished, she came out and asked everyone to have a seat.
\"Severus will recover, but slowly. He has been tortured, it looks like for days, this time. He has several cracked ribs, some nasty whip marks on his back and bruises over ninety percent of his body. I don\'t think he has a concussion but he is in shock. He will be staying here until he can move without passing out from the pain. I don\'t see how there is anything anyone can do for him right now, so you might as well go about with your evening plans.\"
As they turned to look at one another, Harry realized that Angelina was not there, it was then that they heard an anguished scream and a hard thud. Poppy had moved the curtain in time to see Angelina holding Severus hand when she screamed and passed out. Severus was now sitting up with a confused look on his face, after a moment or two it dawned on him what had happened. Angelina had laid her hands on him as a healer and thus had taken on his injuries and now she was unconscious on the ground.
\"Don\'t you dare try to get up Severus!\" Poppy yelled a him as she began attending the young woman.
Hagrid was already lifting her up and into the bed next to Severus. Harry was frantically looking from Poppy to Dumbledore to Severus for some answers. Severus acquiesced, explaining what had gone on and tried to assure Harry and himself that the injuries would not affect her in the same way and that she would recover quickly. Poppy was already assessing her new patient and she agreed with Severus.
\"She should be coming around soon. Let me get her a pain potiod I d I want her to spend the night here too. I just want to make sure she is fully recovered before I release her. Now I want all of you - out of here, so my patients can get some rest. Pe doe don\'t worry I will call everyone if anything happens.\" Poppy made a shooing sound to speed them on their way.
Surprisingly, even Dumbledore left without an argument. Severus was glad about that, he did not want to have to recount what he had been through, not yet anyway. He could not believe she had been foolish enough to lay her hands on him and take in all his torture and the resulting injuries. Angelina began to stir, looking over at Severus she tried to smile.
\"Why did you do that, Angelina? Don\'t you realize you put yourself in jeopardy since you have not been trained as a Healer yet?\" He slid off the bed knowing that Poppy would probably lay him out herself but he had to touch her, had to feel that she was still sentient for himself.
\"I did it because it broke my heart to see you in such agony. They tortured you for days, Severus. I knew something was wrong when you did not come back after the first day. They were questioning you about me and Lucius was the one in charge of the torture? I could actually see it happening. I never realized that would happen with the healing. Why, Severus, why were they torturing you over me?\" She looked at him pleadingly and he had no idea what to say to her.
\"I don\'t know, my beautiful seraph. It may have to do with you healing powers. Yes, Lucius was in charge of the beating or I should say he was the beater. Now you need to get your rest and don\'t go and heal anyone else until you\'ve been properly trained. I can\'t stand to see you this way.\" He began to tenderly stroke her cheek and before he could stop, he was kissing her gently, savoring the suppleness of her lips. When he heard a cough from the other side of the curtain, they separated. Poppy charged in and glared until Severus was back in his bed.
\"You should both be resting. Angelina take this pain potion and then you two can chat until you both fall asleep. I am not telling you to stay up all night, you both need rest.\" She handed Angelina the potion and fluffed her pillows. Poppy turned to Seveus and did the same, ignoring a look that would have hexed most witches or wizards into unconsciousness.
Once they heard Poppy step out of the ward and go to her rooms, Severus got out of bed. Approaching Angelina, he whispered several spells to envelope them in a mantle of secrecy. Severus sat on the edge of her bed leaning back against the headboard, he took Angelina in his arms - both for herself and himself. He felt that they both needed the comfort of the other even if it was just for a few hours. Angelina was sure that Christmas had come early and fell asleep wishing this embrace would never end.