Happily Ever After , scene 7

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"Voice."

"I'm working on it, young man. You wouldn't believe how much damage was done. Everything in the neck is important, you know. That must have been some big snake. You're lucky it's not worse. What we got here is a lot of torn soft tissue, which is trying to scar. Each treatment, I get the fibers straightened out a little, it gets easier for you. If you'd gotten your pharynx necrotic, I'm not sure how well I could mend it. Good thing you had the antivenin in you already, too."

Snape considered it a cosmic injustice that he could hardly speak and this man could prattle endlessly. However, he obviously knew what he was doing. A graduate, it would seem of the Dumbledore school of hiding intelligence behind eccentricity.

"How long?"

Hard to say, but it is actually a good idea for you to force yourself to talk. Helps the fibers mend straight. Why don't you come to dinner at our table and try to take part in the conversation. You're getting well enough to start walking. I'll get you a cane in case your sense of balance is off. You may have some swelling near the middle ear; if you do, it will go down within weeks at the outside."

Severus wasn't sure if Sinistra would really want to see him there; she'd acted distant since he tried Legilimency on her. Her reaction was understandable, although he'd only been meaning to verify his safety. "I accept... hosp'tality."

Max clapped his patient on the back, earning another glare. "You'll do fine, young man. Brevity is the soul of wit. Speaking of which, I have to keep this brief; I got a message about ten minutes ago about a man crushed a finger in an olive press. I think I've got some Skele-gro to set him right."

As Max left, Snape picked up some paper and a fountain pen. It took him a few scribbles to get used to it, but soon he had a smooth flow of spiky handwriting.

He left the greeting off. Should he call her Professor Sinistra, or did their current situation demand he address her on a first name basis? First name, he suspected. Besides, he'd begun to not merely find her tolerable, but look forward to her visits. He went back and filled in the salutation.

Dear Aurora,

I hope you can forgive my intrusion on your personal memories. I only meant to make sure there was no hidden agenda; I am unused to being able to trust and consider myself safe. I can see I need to rid myself of some bad habits before I am suitable once more for polite society. Nevertheless, I have been invited to dine with the family, and I wish to assure you of my intent to behave as a gentleman should.

Your friend,
Severus Snape