Healing Chapter 19
Title: Healing (19/X)
Author: Maggie2mw (that's me!)
Word Count: 1,700
Rating: PG
Pairing: SS/OC and other minor pairings
Warnings: Spoiler to DH
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters herein are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: Olga opened her eyes to a strange world and decided to stay. She met strange people, and then realised that she is not much different. Hogwarts is reopening, and there are Death Eater activities again...
Chapter 19 - Dream and decisions
Next time I opened my eyes was to a sight that was serene and calm but so out of place.
Narcissa was painting.
She set up close to my window, fully bathed in your concentration. She was glowing in the afternoon sun, with the contrasting dark backdrop, I thought I was in a dream.
Narcissa looked up at me, and smiled. I blinked. She gracefully laid down her brush, gave a flick of her wand, picked up the painting and came over to sat on the side of the my bed. She passed the painting to me.
She was truly an artist. Simple colours brought out the richest emotions. It was a picture of me, sleeping. This must be what people call sleeping like a baby. Just before I start to feel embarrassed, something in the picture caught my eye.
I raised my hand to my left cheek. My fingers encountered something that I swore was not there before.
“Your eyes changed colour as well.” Narcissa gave me a smile and passed me a conjured mirror. “I am glad that I painted you asleep so I don’t need to modify my painting!”
On my face was patch of fine green feathers, tear shaped and in the size of my little fingernail.
“What is this?” I asked in fascination.
“A Mark of Magic.” Narcissa gave a chuckle at her own reply. She was trying out places to hang up the portrait she done. “Yours symbolise that you are now a Magically approved Master Healer. Lucius had taken on the research and worked continuously since Sunday. Very little recorded reference were to be found.” After satisfying herself with a spot beside my bed, she picked up a thin dusty looking book from my side table and handed it to me. “Have a read, this will able to explain than I. I shall inform Severus that you are awake, and up for visitors?”
I nodded absently flipping through the book.
“Olga.” Narcissa sat down again and took my face I her hands. Looking into my eyes, she said softly. “Do look after yourself. There is a limit to how much stress a mother’s heart can endure.” With a soft kiss on my forehead, Narcissa waltzed out of my room.
CHANGEOFSCENE
The book was truly fascinating.
According to the book, every person with magic was born with a gift, or a Magic. It was up to the person to discover the gift, and decide if to pursue in that direction. The Magic could be trained and developed by studying under a master. To be marked completed a series of challenges were to be taken. No one knew in advance if the any test would satisfy the requirement. If set too easy, someone can spend his or her whole life attempting for the qualification. If set too difficult it would be fatal. Once the challenge was accept for testing the person would be in a trance where his or her magic would be open for judgement. Anything could go wrong. It was possible but rare for someone to stumble across a test while performing a task that require complete immerse of one’s magic. It was up to the Magic itself to sense the qualification of the challenge and test the person. Once satisfied a Mark would appear on a prominent part of the person, such as face or hand. It was only then that person had earned the title of Master in that field. The examination experience was extremely personal which Masters were relucent to share or record.
Although the Masters were close lipped on how or why a particular mark was awarded, general observation had classified the few dozen Marks loosely based on the Master’s previous training. My tear shaped mark was recognised as one of the Healer’s Marks. It no explanation was given to the colour or the texture, nor did anything mentioned about my eye colour change. It appears that my attempt at removing the Death Mark had triggered the Magic and registered it as a challenge.
Due to the difficulties and the risks involved it was not a surprise that this practise had faded out of favour over the centuries. A more standard form of training had taken over, which evolved into the education and training scheme we have now. There had not a recorded Master in the past two hundred years.
Thinking back now, my action was very unwise. How reckless! Not regretting, but I should have done some planning. I am becoming more like a Gryffindor! I mused. I touched my Mark again. I must been successful, at least this gave me some peace of mind.
A knock on my door brought me out my thoughts.
The ward must have reset now that I was out of bed rest. It was Severus, I mentally gave permission to let him in.
“Happy to see that you are up and about, Olga.” Severus said as he came over the couch.
“Yes, four days!” I groaned. “I was afraid that I’d have forgotten how to use my legs! Have a seat, I go get the tea.”
I put down the book and walked to my little kitchen. I was relieved to be finally allowed to move around and not relying on others.
“I am sorry that I dropped all the work on you, must be so much a strain on you all looking after me on top of the school work.” I said as I was brewing the tea.
“As you see the castle is still here, so we must have managed.”
“I gather you have not told the Malfoys about my Gryffindork activity?” I joked.
My hand was still weak making it difficult balancing two cups over the short distance. Severus watched me but did not offer to assist. He knew I do not like to have my weakness rubbed in my face.
“No, Lucius were able to find so much just based on your Mark alone. He could have guessed that you done something reckless. I would have been skinned alive by Narcissa if I told her my direct involvement! You should have seen her.” He shivered at the memory.
“May I see?”
“Of cause.” He laid down his tea and rolled up the sleeve.
The pale skin was smooth like a just born baby, Severus shrivelled as I ran my finger across where the Mark used to lay. There was not even a hint of it now. Well, a part from the more paled patch of the Death Mark shaped skin contracting to the rest of the arm.
The Death Mark bought my nightmare to the forefront of my thought. The dream had not returned, but the image of the death curse leaving the wand striking towards Draco and Severus was forever printed in my head. It was so real. It could be real. Severus is alive sitting in front me now, but tomorrow he could be dead. This world is nothing peaceful as it seemed on the surface. I had not made the connection before, now the realisation stared at my face. I had promised myself to live this life to the full, why am I backing up from this? Was I selfish in refusing him? How could I refused him then let him left hanging with a promise. What would he think of me?
“I am still not used to the strange sensation from the new skin.” Severus said quietly, bring me back to the present.
I found myself tracing the nonexistent Death Mark with my fingers. “Was it horribly painful?” I asked.
“No.”
I looked up. Severus’ eyes shone with intensity. He took my hands in his.
“Olga, I saw you close your eyes then you became unresponsive. You were so rigid, I was afraid if I broke your concentration that I would kill you. Then you just clasped. You faded away right in front of me twice in one day. First time I was there to pull you through, but this time I was helpless. How could I been so thoughtless, let you danger your life for my vanity’s sake…”
“Severus, stop it, I am alright now.”
“One moment you were sitting there talking with me, the next you were laying there lifeless. Poppy was able to examine you and diagnose, it was because your defence magic was completely unresponsive! When the fever hit, Poppy and I… I had never doubt the boundary of potion making, but then I did. All my skill at potions was useless…”
“I’m sorry.” I lowered my eyes and muttered.
“No! Olga, you got nothing to say sorry about! Heck, I am saying this all wrong.” Severus moved to kneel next to me so he can look in my eyes again. “Olga, may I court you? I know I said that I will give you time and not to pressure you. After seeing you dying in my arms, I cannot keep my promise anymore. I am a Slytherin, I am selfish. I cannot bear the thought of losing you. I don’t want to ask ‘what if’s …”
Court me? My heart was pounding so much, I don’t know what to think. The dream flushed across my eyes. Severus’ voice was distant, but the few words that filtered through were echoing my own thoughts. Seeing you dying… Losing you…What if…
“Stop, stop.” I said to the voice and the images in my head. I opened my eyes which I did not know I closed before. Severus’ face was in confusion slowly evolving into something I did not wish to see. So I did one thing that I had wanted for a long time. I kissed him.
A/N: There, the kiss… :) I was going to make them wait, but how can I be so hush?
Sorry I been away from posting, but this scene been bugging me. I had gone through two more changes to my plot until I arrived at something that I am happy enough to finish this chapter.
O Heck, I can see major editing required in the earlier chapters already!
Been my first real fiction, I am feeling my way through, stumble and struggling as I go. Nothing beats the pleasure of finishing a chapter to be posted, and receiving reviews. Thank you to Tabbycat1220 for giving my first ever review, The-Real-James-Potter for the next, and the ever present invisible-gurl!
Last musing before I go under… 40k already, planned 25k for the whole story when I started, who would have thought?
Author: Maggie2mw (that's me!)
Word Count: 1,700
Rating: PG
Pairing: SS/OC and other minor pairings
Warnings: Spoiler to DH
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters herein are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: Olga opened her eyes to a strange world and decided to stay. She met strange people, and then realised that she is not much different. Hogwarts is reopening, and there are Death Eater activities again...
Chapter 19 - Dream and decisions
Next time I opened my eyes was to a sight that was serene and calm but so out of place.
Narcissa was painting.
She set up close to my window, fully bathed in your concentration. She was glowing in the afternoon sun, with the contrasting dark backdrop, I thought I was in a dream.
Narcissa looked up at me, and smiled. I blinked. She gracefully laid down her brush, gave a flick of her wand, picked up the painting and came over to sat on the side of the my bed. She passed the painting to me.
She was truly an artist. Simple colours brought out the richest emotions. It was a picture of me, sleeping. This must be what people call sleeping like a baby. Just before I start to feel embarrassed, something in the picture caught my eye.
I raised my hand to my left cheek. My fingers encountered something that I swore was not there before.
“Your eyes changed colour as well.” Narcissa gave me a smile and passed me a conjured mirror. “I am glad that I painted you asleep so I don’t need to modify my painting!”
On my face was patch of fine green feathers, tear shaped and in the size of my little fingernail.
“What is this?” I asked in fascination.
“A Mark of Magic.” Narcissa gave a chuckle at her own reply. She was trying out places to hang up the portrait she done. “Yours symbolise that you are now a Magically approved Master Healer. Lucius had taken on the research and worked continuously since Sunday. Very little recorded reference were to be found.” After satisfying herself with a spot beside my bed, she picked up a thin dusty looking book from my side table and handed it to me. “Have a read, this will able to explain than I. I shall inform Severus that you are awake, and up for visitors?”
I nodded absently flipping through the book.
“Olga.” Narcissa sat down again and took my face I her hands. Looking into my eyes, she said softly. “Do look after yourself. There is a limit to how much stress a mother’s heart can endure.” With a soft kiss on my forehead, Narcissa waltzed out of my room.
CHANGEOFSCENE
The book was truly fascinating.
According to the book, every person with magic was born with a gift, or a Magic. It was up to the person to discover the gift, and decide if to pursue in that direction. The Magic could be trained and developed by studying under a master. To be marked completed a series of challenges were to be taken. No one knew in advance if the any test would satisfy the requirement. If set too easy, someone can spend his or her whole life attempting for the qualification. If set too difficult it would be fatal. Once the challenge was accept for testing the person would be in a trance where his or her magic would be open for judgement. Anything could go wrong. It was possible but rare for someone to stumble across a test while performing a task that require complete immerse of one’s magic. It was up to the Magic itself to sense the qualification of the challenge and test the person. Once satisfied a Mark would appear on a prominent part of the person, such as face or hand. It was only then that person had earned the title of Master in that field. The examination experience was extremely personal which Masters were relucent to share or record.
Although the Masters were close lipped on how or why a particular mark was awarded, general observation had classified the few dozen Marks loosely based on the Master’s previous training. My tear shaped mark was recognised as one of the Healer’s Marks. It no explanation was given to the colour or the texture, nor did anything mentioned about my eye colour change. It appears that my attempt at removing the Death Mark had triggered the Magic and registered it as a challenge.
Due to the difficulties and the risks involved it was not a surprise that this practise had faded out of favour over the centuries. A more standard form of training had taken over, which evolved into the education and training scheme we have now. There had not a recorded Master in the past two hundred years.
Thinking back now, my action was very unwise. How reckless! Not regretting, but I should have done some planning. I am becoming more like a Gryffindor! I mused. I touched my Mark again. I must been successful, at least this gave me some peace of mind.
A knock on my door brought me out my thoughts.
The ward must have reset now that I was out of bed rest. It was Severus, I mentally gave permission to let him in.
“Happy to see that you are up and about, Olga.” Severus said as he came over the couch.
“Yes, four days!” I groaned. “I was afraid that I’d have forgotten how to use my legs! Have a seat, I go get the tea.”
I put down the book and walked to my little kitchen. I was relieved to be finally allowed to move around and not relying on others.
“I am sorry that I dropped all the work on you, must be so much a strain on you all looking after me on top of the school work.” I said as I was brewing the tea.
“As you see the castle is still here, so we must have managed.”
“I gather you have not told the Malfoys about my Gryffindork activity?” I joked.
My hand was still weak making it difficult balancing two cups over the short distance. Severus watched me but did not offer to assist. He knew I do not like to have my weakness rubbed in my face.
“No, Lucius were able to find so much just based on your Mark alone. He could have guessed that you done something reckless. I would have been skinned alive by Narcissa if I told her my direct involvement! You should have seen her.” He shivered at the memory.
“May I see?”
“Of cause.” He laid down his tea and rolled up the sleeve.
The pale skin was smooth like a just born baby, Severus shrivelled as I ran my finger across where the Mark used to lay. There was not even a hint of it now. Well, a part from the more paled patch of the Death Mark shaped skin contracting to the rest of the arm.
The Death Mark bought my nightmare to the forefront of my thought. The dream had not returned, but the image of the death curse leaving the wand striking towards Draco and Severus was forever printed in my head. It was so real. It could be real. Severus is alive sitting in front me now, but tomorrow he could be dead. This world is nothing peaceful as it seemed on the surface. I had not made the connection before, now the realisation stared at my face. I had promised myself to live this life to the full, why am I backing up from this? Was I selfish in refusing him? How could I refused him then let him left hanging with a promise. What would he think of me?
“I am still not used to the strange sensation from the new skin.” Severus said quietly, bring me back to the present.
I found myself tracing the nonexistent Death Mark with my fingers. “Was it horribly painful?” I asked.
“No.”
I looked up. Severus’ eyes shone with intensity. He took my hands in his.
“Olga, I saw you close your eyes then you became unresponsive. You were so rigid, I was afraid if I broke your concentration that I would kill you. Then you just clasped. You faded away right in front of me twice in one day. First time I was there to pull you through, but this time I was helpless. How could I been so thoughtless, let you danger your life for my vanity’s sake…”
“Severus, stop it, I am alright now.”
“One moment you were sitting there talking with me, the next you were laying there lifeless. Poppy was able to examine you and diagnose, it was because your defence magic was completely unresponsive! When the fever hit, Poppy and I… I had never doubt the boundary of potion making, but then I did. All my skill at potions was useless…”
“I’m sorry.” I lowered my eyes and muttered.
“No! Olga, you got nothing to say sorry about! Heck, I am saying this all wrong.” Severus moved to kneel next to me so he can look in my eyes again. “Olga, may I court you? I know I said that I will give you time and not to pressure you. After seeing you dying in my arms, I cannot keep my promise anymore. I am a Slytherin, I am selfish. I cannot bear the thought of losing you. I don’t want to ask ‘what if’s …”
Court me? My heart was pounding so much, I don’t know what to think. The dream flushed across my eyes. Severus’ voice was distant, but the few words that filtered through were echoing my own thoughts. Seeing you dying… Losing you…What if…
“Stop, stop.” I said to the voice and the images in my head. I opened my eyes which I did not know I closed before. Severus’ face was in confusion slowly evolving into something I did not wish to see. So I did one thing that I had wanted for a long time. I kissed him.
A/N: There, the kiss… :) I was going to make them wait, but how can I be so hush?
Sorry I been away from posting, but this scene been bugging me. I had gone through two more changes to my plot until I arrived at something that I am happy enough to finish this chapter.
O Heck, I can see major editing required in the earlier chapters already!
Been my first real fiction, I am feeling my way through, stumble and struggling as I go. Nothing beats the pleasure of finishing a chapter to be posted, and receiving reviews. Thank you to Tabbycat1220 for giving my first ever review, The-Real-James-Potter for the next, and the ever present invisible-gurl!
Last musing before I go under… 40k already, planned 25k for the whole story when I started, who would have thought?