Bright lights obscured my vision as I tried to open my eyes, blinking away the fuzziness. I groaned as I tried to move my arm and was met with searing pain.
"Darling?" I turned toward the sound of Severus's voice. I blinked a few more times and his dark onyx eyes came into view. I smiled softly at him and he breathed a sigh of relief as he brought my hand to his lips. "Thank Merlin. I was so worried."
I saw Minerva sitting next to him, a bright smile on her face, as Poppy walked toward my bed, a small vial in her hand.
"How are you feeling, dear?"
"Like I got attacked by a dragon," I chuckled. She smiled softly at me before placing the vial to my lips.
"A potion for the pain, dear," she said as I swallowed the potion. "I'm going to take a look at the wound, now, dear... this may hurt a bit. The potion will help but there's only so much I can do, so... brace yourself."
I nodded and Severus placed a hand on my good shoulder as I gripped his other hand tightly. Poppy began removing the blood-soaked bandages, tossing them in the trash. The wound was no longer open as the salve she had placed on it before wrapping had done most of the healing work. She carefully began cleaning the area and a burning sensation spread through my arm. I clenched my jaw, gripping Severus's hand tightly, as I tried to control my screams.
"I'm here, baby... I'm here," he whispered, burying his face in my neck as I turned toward him, burying mine in his hair, soft whimpers leaving my lips. "I know, baby... I know. It'll be over soon," he soothed, pressing soft kisses on my neck.
"Poppy, how much longer?" Minerva asked.
"Almost done," she replied as she reapplied a salve to my arm and the burning increased. "I know, dear. I'm so sorry," she whispered, wrapping the wound.
Severus lifted his face from my neck, pressing his lips to my forehead, as I gripped his hand tightly.
"There, all done, dear," Poppy said, getting rid of the bandages before gently touching my arm and heading to her office.
"You did wonderful, darling," Severus said, smoothing my hair away from my face.
"It hurts, Sev," I whimpered as a dull ache began to settle in my shoulder.
"I know, baby. Just rest, now," he soothed, gently rubbing my cheek.
"Is Harry okay?" I asked as I felt myself growing tired.
"Yes, love. He retrieved the egg with no problem. He's fine."
"That's good," I murmured, feeling my eyelids growing heavy.
"Just rest, baby," he soothed and I slipped away, allowing sleep to take me.
...
I slipped in and out of consciousness over the next few hours. I remember Severus holding my hand through all of it and Poppy changing the bandages a few more times. She said I wouldn't have a scar and I was happy about that. Harry had been in to visit me and I congratulated him on defeating the dragon before I slipped out of consciousness again.
...
I awoke to the feeling of a hand on my forehead before I opened my eyes, seeing Poppy standing over me.
"Ah, she's awake. We were getting worried, dear."
"Why?" I asked.
"You spiked a fever about an hour ago and we couldn't get you to wake up. We were worried about an infection but nothing seemed to be wrong."
"We were so worried, darling," Severus whispered and I could see tears in his eyes as he held my hand in his.
"I'm alright, Sev," I said, giving him a soft smile as he rubbed my cheek softly.
"She's a strong girl, Severus," Poppy said. "In fact, I think she'll be okay to leave the hospital wing tomorrow if she doesn't spike a fever overnight."
"Poppy, what do you think caused the fever?" Severus asked, seeming worried.
"Oh, it could be any number of reasons, Severus. Most likely she was in some pain and it caused her fever to spike. I don't see any sign of infection so I suspect it was just a one time thing. Besides, I suspect you'll bring her back to me at the first sign of trouble."
I chuckled at this as Severus smiled, looking down at me.
"We all know that's true," I said, smiling as I squeezed his hand. "This is good news, Sev." I saw fear in his eyes and that worried me. "Sev, what is it?"
He looked up at Poppy and she immediately understood. She nodded toward us before heading to her office, leaving Severus and I alone.
"Severus, what is it?" I asked, growing worried. I looked around, noticing Minerva was no longer in the room.
"About an hour ago... Minerva had to help Albus with a misbehaving student. Not long after she left... my left arm started to burn. Not long after that happened... you spiked a fever. No one knew why and I'm sure it was just a coincidence, but..."
"I don't think it was a coincidence, Sev," I whispered.
"What do you mean?"
"Show me your arm."
"What?" he asked, growing nervous.
"You know exactly what, Severus. Show me your arm."
He sighed, knowing I wasn't going to let go of this. I slowly sat up, feeling a familiar burning in my chest. I winced, clutching my chest and Severus held my body upright.
"Darling, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," I breathed, sitting up fully, my back resting on several pillows. "Show me your arm."
He began unbuttoning the cuffs of his sleeve, carefully lifting it, and exposing his veiny arm. He turned it over, exposing what should have been a faded Dark Mark. My breath hitched as I saw the black returning to the once faded mark, the snake curling around itself before reaching the end of the arm, its mouth open. I reached my hand up toward his arm but he seemed to flinch slightly. I looked up, locking eyes with him.
"May I?"
He gave me a slight nod and I lifted my hand to his arm, carefully touching the skin. I traced the lines of the mark, noticing how it began moving and he winced in pain at the same moment I felt a burning in my chest. It stopped moving and my pain subsided.
"When did this start?" I asked, tracing the snake around the skull's head, reaching the open mouth, before moving my hand back up, trailing around the skull.
"Just after the Quidditch World Cup."
My movements faltered and I felt my hand gripping underneath his arm as my other hand rested on the mark.
"And you didn't tell me?" I asked.
"You had enough to worry about... especially once Harry was entered in the tournament. I didn't want to worry you."
"Severus... we are together. I want you to worry me if something like this comes up. You don't have to go through this alone anymore."
I saw tears in his eyes as he lifted his other hand to my cheek, gently rubbing it.
"I promise not to keep anything like this from you again," he assured as I gave him a soft smile before looking down at the Dark Mark again.
"How often does it burn?"
"Not very often, though it seems to be much more active today. It hasn't really been bothering me since the World Cup. Usually I just notice it getting darker but, today, it's a bit more painful."
"I'm sorry, my love."
"It's not your fault. I made my choice," he replied bitterly, guilt in his eyes.
"You're a good man, Severus," I soothed and he smiled at me.
"What did you mean when you said it wasn't a coincidence?"
"You're probably going to think I'm crazy, but... at the World Cup, after I saw the mark in the sky, I got a weird burning in my chest. I hadn't felt it again until today... at the same time your mark moved."
"You're right... that is crazy," he replied, giving me a soft smile, though I could see the concern in his eyes.
"It's just a coincidence... right?"
"Of course it is, darling," he assured, though I could tell he didn't believe it.
Suddenly I heard footsteps coming from Poppy's office and Severus quickly rolled down his sleeve as I let go of his arm.
"What are you doing sitting up?!" Poppy exclaimed.
"Poppy, I'm fine," I chuckled. "I've been laying here for the entire day. I'm fine. You've done a great job."
She looked as if she wanted to argue but when she saw Severus grab my hand, giving me his signature smile, she decided against it, giving us a smile.
"Any sign that she isn't doing well and you better call for me, Severus," she said.
"Of course, Poppy," he assured and she walked away, leaving Severus and I alone, extremely worried, though neither of us would admit it.