Forever Yours

21. Awake

"I freaked out when I went to check on her for the second day in a row and there was no one there," Jo explained as Severus lead them up the fourth flight of stairs.  "I was so worried that something awful had happened to her."

Severus stopped when they arrived to the Hospital Wing, just outside the doors.  He took a deep breath.  "Now, don't freak out when you go in here.  Something did happen to Lucy.  She blacked out."

Jo gasped and Chad pulled her to him, knowing she wouldn't take the news well.  She had told him about Lucy blacking out before and she had been near tears then.

"She lucky she was here when it happened," he continued, "because she still hasn't woken up yet.  This is the Hosptial Wing."

Jo gulped as he opened the doors.  She grabbed onto Chad's hand like it was her only lifeline.  He held it tightly as Severus lead them inside.

"Oh my goodness.  She looks beautiful," she said as she walked over to Lucy's bedside.  She looked up at Severus.  "What was she here for?"

He seemed a little flustered when he answered, which was unusual for him.  "Um, I invited her to a ball here in the Great Hall."

"I can't believe she came.  Lucy hates to dance."

Chad nodded.  "Yeah, I have heard her say that lots of times."

Severus frowned.  He hadn't known that about her.  Jo smiled at him.

"There's only one reason she would get this gussied up and come to a dance.  She wanted to be here with you, Mr. Snape."

He stared at her blankly and the words flew out of his mouth before he could stop them.  "All she has to do to impress me is to be herself."

Jo and Chad looked at each other, their eyebrows raised.

Chad grinned.  "And here I thought they were just pen pals."

Severus averted their eyes.  "We are good friends now."

"I'm just glad she's okay," Jo said, trying to dispel some of the awkwardness now in the room.  "Thank you for taking such good care of her."

"He hasn't left her side."

They all turned in the direction of the voice that had interrupted their conversation.  Madame Pomfrey had a stethoscope in her hand as she walked toward them.

"I need to check her vitals again, please."  She stuck out her hand.  "I'm Madame Pomfrey."

Severus cleared his throat.  "She has been taking care of Lucy for me during my classes and I watch over her when I'm not in class.  Even of a night I don't leave her side."

"Wow," Chad commented.   "Now that is dedication."

Jo rolled her eyes.  She could hear the teasing tone in his voice.  "It's very sweet of you, Mr. Snape."

"Please, call me Severus."

"Wait.  Why would you need to watch over her?"

"Lucy has alerted me to the same secret as she told you about her abilities and who might be after her."

"So, basically they got the wrong girl," Chad concluded.  Did they really think he was that dim?  He could put puzzle pieces together pretty well.  "The Death Eaters were after Lucy, weren't they?"

"Yes," Jo said with a hint of surprise in her voice.

"She's the phantom they're after?"

"Yes."