Ghosts

Snape's often visited by ghosts. Yes, even here, with the bright-lit curtains swaying about his bed--hot tea with cinnamon or mint depending on Pomfrey's whim, except that Pomfrey isn't here anymore. Longbottom is. Snape watches him, crow-wary, as Longbottom makes his rounds with a tired face; sometimes Snape talks to him, but Longbottom never stays long enough to hear. Shadow of the door dark as a belladonna's leaf: opening, closing, as Longbottom leaves the ward.