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

Chapter 59

Katie saw, out of the corner of her eye, a pair of black boots and the bottom of a tattered skirt stop next to the end of the sofa.  Looking up, she recognized Bella Lestrange, who grimaced at her, which, Katie realized, was as close to a smile as Bella could manage .

"Your work . . . Madam Lestrange?"

"Yes, I did what I could," came the reply.

"Excellent job . . . most people cringe at the sight of blood," nodded Katie, returning her attention to her patient.

"Ah, well, our Bella is made of stronger stuff," came another, silky voice.  A shiver ran down Katie's spine as she realized Voldemort was standing right behind her.

"Does anyone know what spells caused all of this damage?  These cuts are quite deep and he also has a slight concussion."

Healer Treiber was feeling Severus' skull and pulled her hand back, holding a sliver of glass in her fingers.

"What the bloody hell happened?!" she exclaimed.

"It seems Headmaster Snape was involved in a duel, in the Great Hall at Hogwarts, with Harry Potter.  He managed to escape through a partially broken window." 

"Sweet Mary, Mother of Pearl, you mean the window behind the staff table?"  Katie asked, as she turned around, coming face to face with Voldemort.

"The same."  Voldemort smiled at her.  "Where are my manners?  Allow me to introduce myself . . . I am Lord Voldemort.  You've met Rabastan Lestrange and I noticed you recognized his sister-in-law, Bella.  This is her husband, Rudolphus and standing by the door is Walden McNair."

Katie nodded to each and then looked at her 'host'.  "Where are the Carrows?  Do they know what happened to Professor Snape?"

"Unfortunately, no.  They 'Apparated' out of the Hall first and Severus followed, arriving in this condition.  However, I do know the spell that was used on him by Potter . . . 'Sectumsempra'.  The concussion was, obviously, from his exit through the window."

"I agree about the bang on his head, but I've never heard of that spell."  She turned back to look at Severus' arm, shaking her head.  "These gashes are going to leave some nasty scars if I don't get started soon.  Is there a bed, preferably a cot, where Headmaster Snape could be moved, so I can begin healing him?"

"Of course . . . perhaps Draco's room.  Bella, go and prepare the bed while we move Severus, won't you?"  Voldemort asked, turning to look at his 'favorite', who nodded and hurried from the room.

Katie took a step back, bumping into the Dark Lord, as she prepared to put Severus on a stretcher.

"Oh! I'm so sorry.  Occupational hazard . . . I tend to ignore everyone in the room but my patient."

"Quite alright, my dear, I was hovering," replied Voldemort.  "Severus is one of my oldest . . . acquaintances and I'm, naturally, worried about him."

"Well . . . 'Levicorpus' . . . of course you are," Katie answered, as she lifted Severus from the sofa onto the stretcher she had formed and turned to guide her patient out the door.  "I'm assuming that the Headmaster reported that I was a competent Healer, if you called for me, specifically, Lord Voldemort.  Oh, could you grab my bag, please?" she added, smiling at him.

"Of course, and to answer your question,  Severus said you were a hard task master about his rehabilitation, but an excellent Healer."

"He spoke the truth . . . I made him work very hard and he loathed my methods, but we tolerated each other well enough to set him straight.   It doesn't surprise me, however, to see him laid out again . . . only this time, he will be reminded of today, every time he sees the scars that these wounds are going to leave.  I'll do my best to make the scaring minimal, but I can't know how much damage this spell has done until I get him disrobed and get a better look."