It's not easy to explain, but . . .

Chapter 49

"I see . . . and who, may I inquire, is my Healer?"

"I am," came a voice from the doorway. 

Severus turned his head and saw a tall - well, it was hard to tell exact height, being flat on his back in bed - raven haired Medi-Witch coming in the door, floating a tray in front of her, which she deposited on the bedside table before turning to face her patient.

"Are you hungry, Professor Snape, because I've brought lunch?!" she asked, with a smile. "I'm Healer Treiber . . . Katie  Treiber."

"How do you do . . . and you may call me Severus, as you will doubtless be yelling my name, along with some rather rude phrases, sometime during my rehabilitation.  I'm just warning you. . . I'm a lousy patient."

"I've heard as much," smiled Healer Treiber, sharing a glance with Poppy, who laughed and walked off to her office. "So, if you don't mind, I think I'll prop you up a bit . . . Severus . . . as I'd hate to dribble your lunch all over you on our first meeting. . . hot soup isn't pleasant running down one's chest."

"So I've been led to believe," smirked Severus.

Katie Treiber stopped in mid-motion and looked at Severus.  "Ah, you DO have a sense of humor . . . that's a nice improvement."

Severus' eyebrows knit together, looking closely at the Healer who was levitating him into a sitting position against a wall of pillows at the head of the bed.

"Have we met?" he inquired. "You look vaguely familiar."

"Of course we have; you were my Potions Professor here at Hogwarts, oh, about a dozen years ago, now.  I was Katie Lible, then, Treiber is my married name."

Severus thought back to his first years of teaching Potions and a memory surfaced of a particularly bright Hufflepuff who was in his advanced 'N.E.W.T.s' class, as she was planning on being a Healer.

"Ah, I do remember . . . Hufflepuff?"

"Yes . . . proves you didn't suffer any brain damage with this incident, anyway," she laughed, as she pulled a chair over in order to feed Severus his lunch.  She tucked a napkin into the neck of his hospital gown, making Severus blush when he realized he wasn't properly dressed, except for the disgusting cotton cover up.  He'd have Tykey fetch his pajamas . . or better yet, those warm sweat pants that Sirius had sent him . . . he secretly loved wearing them in the privacy of his chambers; comfort and warmth was a perfect combination.

"Hello?"

Severus focused and realized there was a spoon hovering in front of his face.

"Sorry," he muttered, dutifully opening his mouth and taking in the warm soup. "Um, that's just made me realize how truly hungry I am . . . thank you for doing this, by the way," he added.

"Part of the service," Katie replied, eyes twinkling. "If you're a good boy, there's gingerbread pudding for dessert."

"Ah, bribery," Severus smirked. "Now that, I understand." Taking another mouthful of soup, he ventured a small smile.

"Good Lord, you smiled!" Katie gasped, then giggled at Severus' instantaneous 'look of doom' he shot at her. "You really have mellowed, haven't you?"

Severus shook his head.  "If you only knew . . . Katie . . . if you only knew!"

"I know you didn't kill Professor Dumbledore . . . he told me himself!"

Severus opened his mouth to question her about that, but instead found another delicious spoonful of soup being tipped into it instead. He decided to refrain from any further attempts at conversation, until this determined Healer had filled him up sufficiently.