🎄 Merry Belated Christmas! 🎄

Reclining back in his chair, a tired man covered his face with one of his hands and used the other to push his book into an accumulating pile off the side of his desk.
Humming in annoyance, hazel eyes narrowed before potent magic was released into the air. His piles of books lifted up and swirled through the air, most returning to their rightful places around the library. A few- too few in the man's opinion- stayed behind to set themselves neatly in front of him.
Heaving himself forwards with a sigh, the man grabbed a random book he had probably read more than a dozen times now and opened it to the table of contents. "Severus wasn't kidding when he said this would be difficult. Damn those little brats."

Whimpering was the first sound Harry heard when he awoke. Furrowing his brow in worry, the submissive sat up in what he 'saw' was the Hospital Wing. Absently feeling the scratchy sheets that pooled around his waist, Harry spotted the source of the whimpering- Fang. The shape of the hound's aura was unmistakable.
"Aw, come here, you big softie."
Fang's aura flipped like a switch, lighting up with brilliant white as the hound leapt up, landing next to the blind submissive. Harry giggled as Fang littered his face with wet, slobbery kisses.
"Why I'd never... Fang, get down this instant! Bad dog!"
Both beings froze in their spots as they turned to the approaching Matron. Harry could recognize that voice anywhere, but seeing the relieved, angry, and shocked aura of Madam Pomfrey cemented the identity of who was approaching him.
"No, it's okay Madam Pomfrey. I called him up."
The Mediwitch stopped in her tracks as her aura grew to be mostly shock. "Mister Potter! You can hear me?"
Bobbing his head and humming with a smile, Harry turned his attention to Fang, gently calming the dog with some well-placed pats and scratches.
"That is wonderful! Tell me, my dear, when did you regain your hearing? Just now?"
Thinking about it, Harry remembered the words of the unicorn leader. "I'm afraid I can't tell you, Madam, as I hardly know myself. It came back when I was in the forest though."
The nice woman harrumphed, but didn't seem overly annoyed by the colors of her aura. "Alright then, I guess that's fine."
The Matron stopped next to Harry's bed, and the Nature Lord reminded himself to act blind.
"What are you doing, Madam?" Harry pretended to look for the woman, his head swiveling lightly.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Potter. I'm just performing a few scanning charms. You don't feel any discomfort or aching anywhere, do you?" Harry mentally sighed as he kept his head trained in the direction of the Mediwitch. Hiding his abilities was starting to get a bit tiring.
"Not really, Ma'am. My wrist is just a bit itchy." Offering up his arm, Harry heard the Matron gasp softly before gentle hands grabbed his forearm.
"That would make sense, Mr. Potter. You have a small gash on your wrist. The itch must be coming from your magic attempting to heal it. I'll just cast a mild healing charm.... and done."
Harry smiled as his arm was released. Feeling where the itch had been, Harry frowned at what felt like a scar.
"I'm sorry Mister Potter. The wound must have been from a few days ago. It's too old to completely heal."
Harry shrugged as he was gently head butted by Fang. He quickly returned to petting the large hound. "It's okay Madam Pomfrey. It's not like that's my only one."
The healer hummed in disapproval, but she didn't say anything else. Harry heard her retreating steps and called out to her.
"Yes, Mister Potter?"
"Um. I'm sorry to bother you, but what time is it?"
Harry watched as orange magic swirled around Madam Pomfrey. "Oh, of course... It's 6:47 in the morning. I'm sure breakfast will just be starting."
Harry slumped in his bed a bit, but Fang didn't let him stop petting him. "Then, will I be able to go down?"
The kindly woman didn't respond for a few moments, but when she did, Harry imagined she was nodding. "I don't see why not. However, you must take Fang with you."
Harry smiled as Fang barked, attempting to stand up on the unstable sheets of the bed. "Of course, Madam. He wouldn't let me leave him behind." Fang barked in confirmation, kissing Harry all over the face again.
"Fang!"

Severus hissed to himself as he trudged through the Forbidden Forest. He'd managed to track down the coven, but many had escaped his wrath, leaving him covered in blood, ash, and injuries. What had truly damaged his pride- and now made it difficult for him to return to the castle- was the magical vampire that had attacked when Severus was already facing down three others of the coven.
The hybrid left him with a severed tendon in his right leg and a shattered foot on the left, not to mention other breaks and tears across his upper body. The barrage of spells that had hit him were quite well chained, so well in fact, that the sudden onslaught of pain had caused his binding spell to drop. It aggravated Severus to no end that he hadn't been able to at least pay the unknown vampire back in kind before he ran off with the surviving members of the coven.
Seeing the sun start to peak through the foliage of the forest, the vampire realized he needed to get back to Hogwarts. It was a crying shame he had never asked his Animus to teach him how to fly without a broom, but Severus doubted he would have enough magic left to do so, even if his dominant had.
Drinking the last of his pain and healing potions, Severus grit his sharp teeth and activated his vampire speed. He ignored the searing pain flowing throughout his body by focusing on getting back to his mates, and, despite his many falls, Severus swallowed his pain-filled tears, staggered back to his feet, and charged onward.
He had to get back to his little mates.