His whole body was acking. That’s how he knew he wasn’t dead. That was unpleasant. He wasn’t relieved. he was worried. Because when death had come, he had been ready; And now, he was alive. And the boy was most certainly gone. And he had failed him. Failed Lily. Failed everything. They’d make him pay, he supposed. They’d make him fit again, just to throw cruciatus curses at his face. They’d know he was a traitor. It was all over. He wouldn’t have to lie anymore at least. And death would claim him. Eventually. Sooner rather than later, if he had any way to fix this. Had the boy fought well? He was dead, wasn t he?
He couldn’t move. He heard himself moan. There was distant footsteps from a nearby room. Oh dear. He hoped it wasn’t Bellatrix. He hoped it wasn’t the dark Lord. His stomach tightened at the thought of him.
« Ah. You’re awake. » said a quiet, raspy voice.
Who was that young lady? Was she a former student? What house was she in? She was quite small. Fresh skin. Pimples. Doll face. An insanely thick, untidy raven mane. Bangs. You could hardly see her eyes, in there. Ageless. Lily’s eyes had been like green sunshine. So warm, and truthful, and refreshing. This one’s were something else. Dark. Deep. She bore them into his, and instinctively, he shielded.
« Hum… The mind doesn’t seem too bad. » she muttered to herself matter-of-factly.
« Quiet, too. That’s polite. Can you speak? »
She didn’t wait for him to respond.
« He needs a strengh potion. » She muttered to herself again.
« I’ll be right back. »
Severus winced. He didn’t like the idea of taking a potion made by such a young witch. The results could be catastrophic. But she wouldn’t give him a choice, now. Would she?
20 minutes later, he was sitting on the bed. Pale, and shaky, and weak, but sitting.
« We’ll get you to walk a bit later. Your muscles need training. Now, maybe, you can speak? »
-The… Boy… » he managed.
-Green eyes, ugly scar, looking like trouble? Yeah, he seemed to be on your mind, alot. I thought you might like this »
She produced a small box from under the bed.
The box was full of news paper articles about The-Boy-Who-lived. Apparently, he had survived. He had become an auror. He had a new girlfriend at least every week, according to miss Skitter.
Severus wanted to laugh and cry. He was flooded with relief. At the same time, he felt empty. He’d been a soldier. A pawn played in a chess board in a game of war. And the players were gone. The dark lord. Dumbledore. Even lily. He no longer had any duty towards any of them. He no longer had anyone to die for. He was back into a life that had been going on without them. How dare it?
« In case you were wondering, you were in a coma for two years. My name is Suneko. You’re in your home, in Spinner’s End. » He hadn’t asked himself the basic questions. He looked at the girl :
« Did you brew this potion yourself? »
-Of course. »
-It’s good. It’s working. » She crossed her arms, and frowned, all outraged :
-Obviously. That’s my job. I’m a healer. I know the basics. »
-Then, why am I not in Saint Mungo’s? » She sighed in frustration :
-Because they would take over as if I were some incompetent dum-dum, and you’re my patient. »
-Let me guess : HILDA student. »
-I’m a licenced healer. I just have to take this exam for administrative purposes. »
-Foreign licence. From where? »
-The country of Li. »
-Why did you come to work in England, then? » She schrugged, and vaguely waved her hand. A tray with a big bowl of soup full of noodles floated right to the bed.
-You need to eat. » she said.
-Then, exercice. You’ll exercice everyday. Gain some muscle. »
That didn’t answer the question.
He heard a faint knocking sound on the window. She opened to an owl, took the message on its paw, and then, sent it off without a word. After which, she depulsoed the message and turned back to him reproachfully :
« Why aren’t you eating? »
-You’re not opening your letter. » he noticed.
-It’s the ministry, again. I think. They’ve been sending me letters and bothering me on my shift. » she schrugged.
-What does the ministry want with you? »
-It has something to do with the fact that some people heard me speak snake one time, and it’s the end of the world. Apparently. » Severus’s heart skipped a beat.
-You’re a parselmouth. »
-Snakes aren’t so bad, when you get to know them. » She mumbled looking down. He cleared his throat, and put on his non judgemental face :
-So, the ministry is harassing you, because…? »
-I’m supposed to inherit from What’s-his-Name. Inherit is a nice way to put it : what would you call a bunch of deadly, cursed coffers, with unreachable gold, yourself? A heritage? I call that a problem. The ministry’s trying to get rid of it. And I would rather ignore them. »
-So, you don’t want the gold. »
-I have only one life, and it’s more precious than this gold. I’d rather keep it. »
Severus tried the noodles. They were way too spicy.
« Finish your plate, now. You’ll need strengh. I’ll get you to walk a bit, next. »
Well, thought Severus as he was ingesting that strange soup. I think I just found another way to die stupidly. He swallowed another mouthful, and let the fire in his throat quiet down a bit.
« You know, I could help with those coffers. » he offered, even though he knew it was not a good idea. She raised an eyebrow.
-Defense Against The Dark Arts in my domain of expertise, and I worked for the Dark Lord, once. I could find a way around the curses. Maybe. »
-Find a way to get back on your feet, first. Instead of talking nonesense. »
Severus Schrugged. If he was to tackle those coffers, he would have to find a strategy, anyway. It wasn’t as if they were in a hurry. Was it?
She was staring at him, as he was finishing his noodles :
« You really want to look into those coffers, don’t you? »
He didn’t answer. He definately would.
« You want your share, I suppose. » His share. He hadn’t even thought about it.
-You saved my life, though. »
-I did my job. But, you would… »
-Why not? » She crossed her arms and frowned, then threw them with a blank expression.
-I think we’re friends. Let’s make you walk, a little. I live here, by the way. »
Les pattes de mouche de la puce polichinelle 