“Hitschfff. I showed you that one to give you some background. Madame Pomfrey had given me some pills for my allergies, and….ihhh-ihtschff, I was supposed to see her when I needed more. I meant to see her after Ashling and I had finished studying, but I was so preoccupied with making sure that she was okay and made it back to her dorm, that I forgot until the next morning. Unfortunately, I overslept, and didn’t have time to make it there before class. I’m going to show you parts of what happened before if that’s okay with you. Huh-ehmphh, huh-emmphhh.”
“It’s fine, Severus. I’m seeing how much you loved her. Later, I’ll show you one of mine, which I believe happened around the same time as this.”
“What’s your memory?”
“The first time we really talked, her and I, as well. And I’ll show you some others if you’d like. Thank you for showing this to me.”
“It’s easier thand explainding. Especially whend I keep sdeezing. Huh-chhh.” He blew his nose and resumed the memories.
***Snape’s Memory #2***
Severus Snape sat at one of the tables in the potions laboratory. Glancing at his watch, he wondered where Ashling was. By the time class started, she still hadn’t arrived. He figured that she probably didn’t feel well and didn’t think her lungs would be able to handle the class. He sniffled; hopefully, he’d be able to make it through class without any problems. Professor Andrews told them which page in their books to turn to, to begin working on a relaxation potion. Snape scanned the list of ingredients, groaning when he realized lavender blossoms were one of the ingredients. Discreetly blowing his nose as well as he could without attracting attention, he set to work. He was fine for the first 10 to 15 minutes before his nose started to itch. The close contact with the lavender, as well as the fact that every other student in the room was using the same ingredient, was beginning to trigger his allergies. He rubbed his nose fiercely, hoping to eliminate the tickle. His nose was starting to run, and he wiped at it with his handkerchief. A few minutes later, he, unthinkingly, sniffled deeply in an attempt to clear his sinuses. His eyes widened with the realization of what he’d done, and he quickly gritted his teeth and pinched his nose with his handkerchief. “Engk, ahh-emmk.” He stifled into his handkerchief and lightly blew his nose. A few minutes later, he sneezed again. “Ahh-emmk, heh-mmp.” After trying to blow his nose without making any noise, he resumed the potion.
“Hikght, hehkghtt, umppt, huhchmm.” Knowing this wasn’t going to quit, he grabbed his text and book bag and tried to slip out of the room without attracting attention. A short ways from the classroom, he leaned against the wall and began to sneeze. “Ha-chhh, eh Shhh, ehhh-chhh. ehh-ihhphhh, tchff, hehhhkshhh, hehchfff, hihtchhh, ihshfff, ekishmmphh, heh-ummphh, humph, ihhktchh.”
“Are you alright, Mister Snape?” He heard Professor Andrews ask when there was a break in the sneezing.
Snape blew his nose. “I’mb fih..ihh-mfff…fide. I’b allergic to lavender. Dorbally it’s dot a probleb, but…ihh-ihtshff…I rad out of stuff for by allergies…ahh…ahn-chhh…ad I didn’t hab a chadce to see Badabe Pobfrey this bording. Hitschfff, ihkff.”
“Gesundheit. I’d send you to see her, but she isn’t here right now. She’ll be back later, probably before dinner. I’m supposed to handle things. I can give you an allergy potion if you’d like.”
“Hit-smmphh. I would, but I cad’t. I’b either allergic to sobething ihh…ihn-schh…id theb or they dod’t work adybore.” he sniffled, blowing his nose. “Badabe Pobfrey gibes behh…ehkshh…buggle stuff.”
“That I can’t give you. She has training to dispense those sorts of things. You won’t have any problems once you have your pill?”
“Do, dot really. Dot like this, anyway. Heh-emphh.”
“Okay. Since Pomfrey isn’t here right now, the only thing I can do is let you out of the rest of the period. Miss O’Connor spoke to me this morning, and I’m offering her a chance to do make-up next week. I was going to ask you if you’d help out, but instead, I’ll have you come and make this up then. You’re free to go and study or rest.”
“Thanks. Hip-schhh, hitschff.” Professor Andrews headed back into the classroom, and Snape went to the library to do some studying before History of Magic.
The memory skipped ahead to a point towards the end of History of Magic. Of course, he had to have this class with the Gryffindors. He sat in the back and tried to keep his sniffling to a minimum as well as trying not to sneeze. A few sneezes escaped him though, and there were snickers and whispers from James, Sirius and Peter with each one. Remus, looking especially peaky, remained silent, and at one point, Snape thought he saw him giving him a sympathetic look, but when he looked over, Remus was focused on Professor Binns. Most of the class left quickly when it was over, but Remus stayed to get a packet from Binns while Severus blew his nose. As he got up to leave, Remus stopped him.
“Severus, have you seen Ashling today? She wasn’t in Defense, and that’s not like her.” “Do. I haven’t. She wasn’t in potionds either, but Professor Andrews said she talked to himb. I have to get to Herbology.” He brushed past Remus and headed to the greenhouse. Blowing his nose strongly before he entered, he went to his usual spot towards the front. He rather enjoyed learning about the various plants and herbs, despite the fact that he was allergic to several of them. Unfortunately, all the greenery was beginning to make his nose itch and run, and his eyes were starting to burn and water, He was having serious doubts as to whether or not he was going to make it through class, but he figured he’d stick it out as long as he could. However, he was definitely allergic to the plants they were working with today: Mugwort and Helenium.
“Humphhh.” he stifled a sneeze about 5 minutes into class. “Hmphh.” He tried to ignore his watery eyes and focus on the lecture, already knowing that the practical part of the lesson was going to be a lost cause. He tried to fight back his sneezes as well, but a strangled “Hmpff.” came out about every other minute or so. When the Professor Sprout had finished the lecture and sent them to work in groups, he made his way over to her,
“Can I help you, Mister Snape?” she asked, taking a look at him. “Are you alright?”
“I’b allergic to bugwort ad helediub, ad I rad out of allergy stuff. I dod’t…ahh-engk…thik I’b goig to be eeh…eh-mmpp…able to do this.”
“All right. Madame Pomfrey is back now, so I’ll excuse you to go see her.”
“Thak you, Professor. Hitchkk.” Burying his nose in his well used handkerchief, he hurried out of the greenhouse, stopping when he reached the castle to hide in a dark corner and let the allergy attack overtake him. “Huh-esschh, kehhishh, ekkshh, huhchisshh, ehh-ihhchh, ahhktchh, heh-shh, her-eshhh, kuh-schh, haa-chmphh, hmptshhh, har-chmmphh, khshhh, htshh, hehphisshh, ehptfff, heh-emphshh, epshh, hiishh, ehhh-kehshhhh.”
5 minutes and 20 sneezes later, the tickle had abated enough for him to continue to the infirmary. Still sniffley and sneezy when he got there, he didn’t see Madame Pomfrey, so he sat down in a chair and waited. “Ketschh, kuhchschh, heh-kemshh.” Since his handkerchief was already more than well used, he got up and grabbed several tissues from the box on the desk. “Huh-schishhmpff.” he sneezed again and blew his nose as Madame Pomfrey entered the outer office.
“What can I do for you, Mister Snape?”
“Hesshh…I rad out of allergy pillss ad…arssshh…we worked with laveder id potiods, ahh..an-chishh, ad bugwort ad helediub in herhh…heh…herschhff….herbology. Kehchishhh, kurchushhh.”
“Bless you. Come into the exam room.” She led him into one of the treatment rooms and had him sit down. “Examinus.” She pointed her wand at him and confirmed that it was an allergy attack that had sent him here.
“Hetchff. Ahhsheshhh.”
“There’s no one who can hear you, Severus. You don’t have to fight your sneezes right now, and it’s better if you don’t, help you get everything out.”
“Ehh-TISHOO.” He nodded, blowing his nose loudly.
“Unfortunately, I’m out of the pills I’ve been giving you. I can have more for you tomorrow. In the meantime, there was one potion that helped you slightly. Would you like that one again? It might make it more bearable.”
“Yeah,” he said, thickly. Pomfrey left and came back with a vial and a glass of water for him.
“Drink these.” He did so.
“Uh-oh.” he sniffled a few minutes later, feeling his arms start to itch. “Badabe Pobfwey?” He held out his arms, which were breaking out in hives.
“Oh dear. I think we can add another allergy to your list.” She handed him a handful of tissues. “As is usually the case with you, I expect you’ll start sneezing again in a minute or two. I know you’ll feel more comfortable in the room alone, so I’ll leave and get you something for your arms. I’ll check back on you in a little but.”
He nodded, pressing the tissues to his nose in time for the first sneeze. “Heh-ASHOO, ahh-CHEOO, Ahh-HACHOO, Ah-CHOO, heh-CHOO, hi-CHOO, ha-KACHOO, hah-ASHOO, hit-CHOO, hah-SHOO, Ahh-AKISHOO, Hah-SHUUHH, Hahh-SHOO, eh-SHARSHHH, Huh-CHUUHHH, heh-CHISHH, huh-HUTCHOO, HAESHOO, HAESH, EHSHOO…hit-ISHOO, ATCHOO, Ah-CHOO…Huh-uh-CHOO…hit-ISHOO…hit-ICHOO…ahh-ah-KERCHO, HATCHOO, CHOO, ATCHOO…huh-HAHCHOO….huh-huh-CHOO……ehhhh-CHOO…….HARSHOO….hah-CHUHH.” Hearing the sneezing taper off a bit, Madame Pomfrey came back in with an ointment for him to put on his arms. “Huh-SHOO.” He applied the ointment to his arms and blew his dripping nose.
“I’m going to keep you here overnight, Mister Snape. I think the worst of it is over, but you’re going to be pretty sniffley and sneezy for until it works out of your system.”
“Ha-CHOO.” he interrupted. “Heh-CHOO.”
“Bless you. I’m going to keep you here tonight, just in case anything happens. It’s going to take about 8-12 hours for this to work out of your system, so I’ll give you something to help you sleep. I’ll notify your head of house to have someone bring your things,”
“Ahh-KISHOOO, Hit-CHOO.” Snape drank the next vial she gave him and then followed her to the sleeping area. She led him to a cot n the far end, and he took off his shoes and robes and lay down. The curtains around all the beds were drawn, as usual, and the infirmary appeared empty, He pulled the curtain around his bed closed and tried to sleep.