What Have I Done?

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Chapter Eight

A week went by with Remus covering Larentia’s History of Magic classes and smiling through the many offered well wishes and sympathy. Severus, on the other hand, spent the week teaching the same lot of dunderheads while grinding his teeth through many overheard stories about his cowardly attack on a woman who spurned his advances. As predicted, Lupin was the quiet hero, saving her from a much worse fate in the nick of time.

Larentia, they both learned during separate visits to her bedside, now littered with cards and gifts from students for her speedy recovery, was healing wonderfully. She should be waking soon, they were told. Both felt lighter knowing she really was doing well. They also increased their visits, each hoping he’d be there when her eyes opened.

The morning Larentia actually woke up, neither Remus nor Severus were present. Actually it was by chance that even Madame Pomfrey was near her bed at the time. A harried student had burst in moments before bearing chocolate frogs and a get well card, muttering about her being his favorite professor. The mediwitch had unburdened him of his load and sent him on his way to class. That’s how she came to be at Larentia’s bedside, having examined her a few hours earlier, arranging the overflow of get well gifts and cards. She might have missed it entirely had Larentia not raised her hand to her chest as though in pain. Taking a closer look at her patient, she noticed her partially opened eyes and witnessed her licking her lips.

“You’ll be needing some water,” Madame Pomfrey announced, drawing Larentia’s attention. She tried to speak, but was silenced by a shake of the older witch’s head. “Your throat is very dry from lack of use, take some water, then you can talk.”

Madame Pomfrey helped Larentia into sitting position and magically adjusted the bed to support her. Then she poured water from a nearby pitcher into a glass she conjured. Larentia hadn’t realized just how thirsty she was until the cool liquid touched her tongue. She tried to gulp greedily, but her caretaker pulled the cup away, shaking her head.

“Not too fast,” she kindly ordered. She held the cup back to Larentia’s lips and this time she slowly drank her fill. Replacing the glass with the pitcher, she turned back to her patient. “Now then, what was it you wanted to say?”

Larentia cleared her throat, testing for tenderness. Feeling none, she smiled and opened her mouth to speak.

“How long have I been here? In the hospital, I mean.” She asked, her voice slightly hoarse from lack of use.

Madame Pomfrey smiled back at her. “Only a little more than a week. I’m afraid you’ll have to spend a few days more, just for observation.”

“Oh,” Larentia said, looking down at her hands. “I was wondering... It’s just that...”
“Yes, dear?” Madame Pomfrey asked with a reassuring tone.

“He didn’t mean to hurt me,” she blurted out. “It’s just that he was so angry at seeing us together. He’d never intentionally hurt me.”

Madame Pomfrey nodded, uncertain.

“He’s never hurt me before. I’m sure it was just because it was so soon after the full moon. And seeing Severus and I...well he hasn’t been sent to Azkaban has he?”

The mediwitch let this information sink in. She’d thought for sure that somehow the young witch had come between the two wizards, but she’d also assumed that Severus had been the one to lose his temper and fire. It hadn’t explained the dual spells hitting her, but she’d never have thought Remus Lupin would raise his wand against anyone. At least not anyone in the Order. She realized that Larentia was looking at her, waiting for her answer.

“No, no he’s not in Azkaban, dear.” She assured. “In fact, Remus is teaching your classes at the moment.”

Larentia let out a relieved sigh. Thank goodness Remus hadn’t been punished for acting in the heat of the moment. She knew he’d never hurt her intentionally. It was just a horrible accident because he found Severus in their bed.

Severus, she thought biting her lip. She wondered if he’d been to visit her. What a foolish thought, she admonished, of course he wouldn’t. They weren’t a couple, after all. She eyed the flowers, cards, and gifts threatening to overflow from the two bedside tables beside her. She saw that someone had brought her lilies, wildflowers, and lavender. Albus, she knew, had brought her the lilies. He’d given her lilies every time she’d been sick, passed her OWLs, or for any reason that he deemed called for flowers. She loved them, he knew. The wildflowers came from Remus, she thought smiling. They reminded her of their clearing in the Forbidden Forest. The lavender, however, she was confused by. Probably a thoughtful student, she thought, seeing the many bewitched cards made by youthful hands.

“Beautiful, aren’t they?” Madame Pomfrey said, pointing to the flowers. “They brought them the day after you arrived. I never thought I’d see Severus Snape carrying flowers to a bedside, but I suppose...”

Madame Pomfrey continued on why she thought it was sensible for him to bring her flowers, but Larentia wasn’t listening. He had been to see her. Her heartbeat sped up. She’d thought he’d be done with her after the accident. Surely it was too much drama for the formidable Potions Master. But it wasn’t. He’d visited and brought her flowers. She looked at the three floral offerings again. Lavender, she thought, one of her favorite fragrances. In fact, it was what she used in her bath and to wash her hair. He’d noticed. She stopped to wonder why this was so important to her, but the door to the Hospital opened and Albus walked in.

Seeing her awake and sitting up, Albus smiled broadly. He’d never had children, seeing as he preferred wizards to witches the opportunity to procreate never presented itself. Tia was the closest thing to having a child of his own. He’d watched her from birth, growing, learning, and coming into her own as an adult. Seeing her laying unconscious for the past week was unbearable. But now she was awake, he thought happily.

“Tia, my dear, you’re awake.” He said, striding to her side to kiss her cheek. Madame Pomfrey made her excuses and disappeared into her office.

She smiled up at her godfather. He’d always been there for her. After her mother died when she was five, Albus became the confidant a mother should be. When her father passed away not long after her seventeenth birthday he became a surrogate father. She didn’t know what she would have done were it not for Albus.

“You’ve given us quite the scare, young lady.” He declared harshly, but the twinkle in his eye gave him away.

“I’m sorry, Albus.” She said, taking his hand. “I never meant for this to happen.”

Albus shook his head. “No, I imagine you didn’t. We won’t discuss it now, my dear, but soon we need to sit down for a cup of tea and a long talk.” He looked into her eyes and she knew there was no getting out of the heart to heart he was offering.

She nodded, and turned toward her gifts and cards. “Thank you for the lilies. I really can’t believe all the get well wishes I’ve been sent.”

“Yes, well as one of the most popular teaches in Hogwarts how could you expect less?” He moved to the tables and picked up a chocolate frog. “Do you mind if I?” He asked, holding up the treat.

She chuckled, Albus’ sweet tooth was legendary. “Of course not. You know I’m not much for sugary treats, so have at them.”

The silence while Albus popped the wiggling frog into his mouth was comfortable. The kind that comes from years of companionship. She knew that the silence wouldn’t last. Albus had his opinions about what had happened, how much of the truth he knew she didn’t know, and he would have his say. For now, however, they had a peaceful moment between godparent and child.

“Lovely lavender,” he said, motioning toward the pale lilac of the flower. “Someone seems to have noticed your preference for the scent.”

Aha, she thought, he was going to be deliberately vague. She had no doubts that Albus knew who brought the lavender. Just as she had no doubts he didn’t just happen into the Hospital right after she woke up by chance. The man knew too damn much, she thought.

“Isn’t it?” She said casually. “Madame Pomfrey mentioned that Professor Snape brought it. He must have realized the calming properties of the aroma and thought it would help while I was healing.”

Albus looked up into the flashing green eyes of his goddaughter. Oh, so she was going to play flippant as well. He turned back to the gift laden tables and made a show at looking through the cards and treats. He pocketed a few more chocolate frogs, but passed over Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans. He noticed a few sugar quills and contemplated having them handy while answering correspondences.

“You might as well take them too, you know I’ll just toss them in the rubbish bin.” Her voice ringed from behind him. “So are you going to go ahead and tell me what you think or am I going to have to wait until I get out from under Madame Pomfrey’s care?”

He smiled. Merlin, how he loved her open nature. She never let things stay unsaid. It’s why he knew that she hadn’t planned on things going so far astray in her current situation. She wasn’t made for espionage or gambling. You could always tell what was on her mind because sooner or later she’d tell you. He was surprised she hadn’t come to him with the Remus and Severus triangle. She usually told him everything about her love life. Well, everything but details.

“If you’d prefer not to wait, we can talk now.” He said, conjuring a comfortable chintz chair, which he settled into easily. Then a tea set which he sat on the corner of her bed. He poured them both a cup of tea, placing a single sugar cube in her cup before handing it to her. He then set about putting enough sugar in his own to energize a wizarding army.

She waited, watching him kill every ounce of flavor from his cup of tea. Internally she was cringing. The man was a walking talking sugar cube, she thought with a chuckle.

“And just what do you find so amusing?” He asked, stirring his sugar, er tea.

“Would you like some tea with your sugar, Albus?” She asked, letting another giggle slip.

He gave her an admonishing look, but his eyes were twinkling. “I happen to like my tea this way.” He said with a sniff.

She reached out and touched his hand. “I know, and I love you anyway.”

He took her hand in his and planted a kiss on her knuckles. “And I you.” He put her hand down and sipped from his cup. “Now, would you care to tell me what possessed you to become intimate with Severus while you are in a relationship with Remus?”

She grinned. At least he’s stopped beating about the bush, she thought. “Honestly, Albus? I’m not entirely sure. You know I’ve always fancied Severus, but he’s so bloody...” She struggled for the right word, considering infuriating, condescending, insufferable, but none felt right anymore.

“Yes, Severus isn’t the easiest person to deal with.” Albus agreed, taking away her search for the right adjective. “That doesn’t explain why you made the choice you did.”

“Well, it’s a long story, Albus.” She said, sipping her own tea.

“My dear, we have nothing but time.”

And so, going back to that day in the dungeon when she came upon the glowering Potions Master and three glaring children, she told him.