Tempora Mutantur, Nos et Mutamur in Illis
Chapter 9 Cover up
Chapter Text
Rage rushed over him. Snape wavered over shouting at Nymphadora for her idiocy, strangling Lupin with bare hands for hurting her like THIS, or walking out the door and leaving her to her own device. Each seemed so tempting right now.
"Don't say or do something you will regret later. Be patient. She is a patient and my patient." Dr. Prince was always the wise and rational one.
He followed his advice, took a deep breath, and did none of the above. Instead, he put a detection spell on her again for a thorough examination, while avoided her face deliberately. She could have maintained the last morph and fooled you, but she trusts you enough to reveal all. Just keep that in mind and focus on the priority!
The alleviated DIC was the silver lining.
"You know, if my face is too unpleasant for you even to comment..." she broke the uncomfortable silence with a weak, hoarse voice.
Of all the things possible in the world she could have said, she chose the one trigged our last tension. The woman literally has a twisted sense of humor. Although still angry, he could hardly suppress a mild smile and turned his eyes to meet hers. But they didn't make there as they stopped at a healed laceration on her throat.
LUPIN HAD TORN HER THROAT OPEN! That was the last straw. To hell with restraint!
"Give me one good reason. Convince me why I shouldn't send an owl to the Ministry of Magic immediately to report a werewolf offense, attempted murder to be accurate. I may need a perfect one." He said coldly and slowly, every word with viciousness.
"Patient-doctor confidentiality." She supplied calmly, though barely audible.
Her calmness irritated him no end. "I am willing to trade my practicing license for Lupin's one-way ticket to AZKABAN." He growled.
"It's not him!"
Liar! She is still defending him, lying for him! Snape could take no more. He threw her wand at her, then forced open the door, intending to rush out.
A chilly breeze drifted through the opening and cooled down his fury boiled brain.
"Nymphadora can't use a wand with her broken arms. She will deteriorate if she tries to impersonate Susiel Pond, or lose her current life if she doesn't. She can't make it without your help."
"Why should I help her? She can summon her beloved werewolf for all I care; oh wait, that's the same werewolf tried to murder her! Yet apparently, it didn't stop her from protecting him!"
"You know WHY."
A stinging realization dawned on him: Because I don't want to lose her even if she is mooning over another Marauder. How pathetic!
Snape closed the door quietly and walked back to her bedside. On the white sheet, she looked peaky, battered, and helpless in her true shape. She didn't try to morph away those terrible scars, or failed to do so.
Swallowing his anger reluctantly, he said through clenched teeth, "I'll help you maintain this identity without suicidal transformation, I promise. The magic drains you. No morph until you fully recover. Agreed?"
Measuring him with her weary eyes, she nodded, "Severus..."
Please don't mention the werewolf. I can't handle it right now.
"No more words, especially in this voice. We can talk about it later, and I expect full disclosure." Feeling it might be too harsh, he added, "You should rest now. I have a business to attend to."
He unwarded the room while kept the anti-muggle charm, then turned to the door. Before leaving, he said as gentle as he could manage, "And, I don't think your face is unpleasant, Nymphadora." He almost believed he heard she sobbing and had the decency not to turn around to check.
He paraded his way out of the hospital, making sure as many people saw him leaving as possible: Ms. Pond didn't need a rumored boyfriend, and Dr. Prince can't afford to get involved with a patient.
Considering Susiel Pond was an accomplished actress, it would be a considerable challenge to keep his promise.
Severus Snape always embraced challenges!
One hour later, he Apparated back to her ward with a detailed plan and some necessities.
"Better let your bones healed by muggles. Three valid reasons: fewer suspicions, insurance compensation, and paid sick leave." He said matter-of-factly.
"Not to mention teaching Nymphadora a lesson." She mocked in his voice. After drinking a blood supplement potion, she regained enough energy to change her voice.
"I assure you it NEVER came to my mind. And I'd appreciate it if you take my potion only for convalescing." He managed to keep a straight face and wondered whether the Auror program provided Legilimency lessons.
"Call your assistant and tell her to decline any visit request on your behalf, using any excuse you see fit."
"Sure."
"I prepared some Polyjuice for you, just in case..."
"Polyjuice doesn't work for Metamorphmagus. I'll cast a Confundus." She interrupted him, "Would you please be so kind as to repair my wand arm? For convenience's sake."
The Polyjuice Potion was designed for human use only. His heart skipped a beat, realizing Nymphadora had just told him something important in a subtle way. He decided to ignore it and shelved it with other things that he didn't want to handle right now. We can talk things through later.
"Do you want to inform someone? Andromeda, for instance?"
"No!" She rejected immediately, "I'd put her through a lot. No need to add salt to the wound."
"As you wish."
All was settled, with a little help of magic, like tampering documents and modifying memories. Snape would like not to elaborate on it.
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