(a/n - This is for the Black Boxed potions challenge! Antidote to Common poisons – Write about someone who is being healed physically. This is a ppam story, and I know the ship isn't too popular, but I am a massive fan of it, and this potion just fitted to it perfectly!)
Time To Check In - Antidote To Common Poisons
Poppy scanned the area, looking for any more serious casualties. There were many people who were already deceased, and she didn't think there were any more left. Until she saw him. He was lying face down, half hidden by some dense shrubbery, and he was breathing heavily. She approached him cautiously, and the first thing she realised was that he was hurt. Very hurt. He had a leg missing and half of his face had been disfigured by some sort of complex charm, and his eye was clouded and still. He was half blind. Her heart leapt to her throat as he tried to turn his head towards her, and she stroked his matted hair gently, trying to ease out the knots that had tangled there. Some of it had been ripped out, and was caught in the bush, waving like thick ribbons on the branches, waving goodbye to their former home, on his head. Poppy didn't know who he was, but he was a serious case. A case she wanted to help. And she knew that at St Mungo's, there was no more room. She quickly scanned the area, and when she was sure nobody was looking, she put her arms around his body and apparated away.
After identifying him as an auror named Alasor Moody, Poppy had made him up a bed on her sofa, and had begun to care for her patient. Alastor had been fitted with a fake leg, and Poppy had managed to make a magical eye by using spells that she had devised herself when studying medical magic. She had managed to rescue his hair and heal the rest of his wounds, and had taken up a vigilant watch by his bedside until he woke up.
Eventually, he opened his eyes, and she rushed to him, offering him potions and pills for his pain. To her surprise, he just smiled and sat himself up, inspecting himself. He curiously looked at his new leg, and looked in the mirror by his bed at his scarred face. He grimaced and turned to her, smiling a lopsided grin.
"I am not much of a looker now, eh?" he chuckled, and Poppy felt her insides melt.
It took a while, at first, since Alastor wasn't used to using an artificial leg. He stumbled, he fell, he cursed, he swore, he whined. She caught, she assisted, she soothed, she cursed, she scolded. They were complete opposites: he the struggling fighter and her the helping healer. And yet they were comfortable together. If Poppy had a visitor, Alastor would shut himself away and wallow in self pity. When he was alone with her, he would practice walking with her, so that he could get it right. She smiled and helped him, and never turned him away, until eventually, he could walk.
Then, his new magical eye was his source of entertainment. He soon realised it could turn in any direction and see through magic. He thanked her for making it, and promised her that he would forever be in her debt. Poppy just smiled and changed his bandages, checking his wounds that were getting better every day. She explained to him that there would be scars, and she talked him through the treatments he would soon be able to do himself. Day by day, week by week, he grew stronger, and, unknowingly, they both grew closer. This wasn't brought to light, however, until she made her announcement.
"Alastor. Over the past few weeks you've made a startlingly good recovery, and have managed to learn how to use your new artificial body parts with unexpected determination. Therefore, you will be pleased to know that you can leave my home and go to your's. Maybe I'll see you around sometime?"
"Poppy, I don't want to leave. You have been very hospitable, and I don't think I have fully realised until now just how utterly important you've become in my life. I shall return to my own flat the auror headquarters, and I shall continue by work, but, Poppy Pomfrey, I intend to see you more than sometimes. I intend to see you frequently, if you don't mind having an ugly old auror to call your own?" he flashed a lopsided grin her way, and she melted into his arms. It looked like this patient would be checking in frequently from now on, and Poppy couldn't be happier.
(a/n - so that's that one done! Yeah! I had some spare time and writer's block, so I thought I would do one of these potions fics, and so this little ppam fic was born! I hope it is satisfactory! Reviews are love! The next one should be up shortly!)
