Chapter 1
The grounds of Hogwarts had been unusually quiet. It was something that most certainly captured Professor Snape's attention. Mischief just had to be afoot. There had to be the illusion of small patters of feet. Maybe a gust of wind through the castle's corridors kept him on edge... yet... there was nothing. Everything around Snape's Environment had been dead silent for the first time in a few weeks.
Having this knowledge gave Snape a sense of peace. Ease of the mind. No students to catch off guard. No ill will to elaborate. Snape just simply scurried down the corridors straight into his Potions Classroom. There he had both his office and supplies waiting for him. The last task he needed to complete was to organize for the next lecture. Then it would be declared a night; returning down to his private room in the Slytherin Dungeons.
Professor Snape was confident enough that supplies had been stocked; potions could be brewed and ingredients weren't under-supplied. Creating a list of what he suspected was low, he set it aside for the next time he had available to shop. Everything for the time being had been in order. Beyond satisfactory, even. Gathering a few loose books that were in his inventory room, he reentered on through to the main classroom area.
Placing down the books at his desk, Snape instantaneously froze. There was someone else now joining him in the darkness of his classroom. Snape drew his wand seeing a strange dark shadow approaching him. "Lumos." He whispered to acquire the upper hand. Not only exposing his location, but reflecting any possible light to reveal the slow approaching figure.
The figure was revealed to be a student. Slytherin coincidentally. There had been a long and drawn out sigh from Professor Snape. He recognized the robes almost immediately. It had been a female student of his, but something wasn't quite right about her posture. Procedure was procedure, however. "Declare your name and reason for wandering the corridors this late."
The female student had struggled to limp further into Snape's view. Drawing closer to the radiating light of his wand. Only then did he watch as everything unfolded. There was a look of dread- no. Pure terror on her face. Her right arm and hand covering the left side of her neck. Upon this sight, the environment between her and Snape instantly transformed into a living nightmare. As her face came more into view; Snape identified her.
Her name was Faith Blackwood. She had the most top ranks in her classes including Snape's Potions Class. This was all his mind could piece together in the moment. Faith was demonstrating a difficulty breathing. The look of panic and dread had transferred to Snape. Blood had accumulated down her right arm. Now dripping to the cold stone floor under her. From Snape's perspective he finally took heed that Faith's neck had been torn to shreds.
Breathing from both shock and fright, Faith rasped a her breath to speak. "Istvan Erdelyi... is a vampire." While simultaneously dropping to her knees bound to collapse entirely.
Professor Snape wasted no time rushing to her aid before her body could slump to the ground. "Are you sure it was Istvan? The one who attacked you?" Faith wanted anything to do in her power to respond to Snape's questions. Yet, was focused more so on saving her strength. There was no longer time on her side. How much blood had been lost? When did the attack take place? Could she even have enough strength to keep conscious?
All these questions raced through Snape's mind as he scooped up Faith's body and placed her on one of the nearby tables. Trying his best to keep his composure, Snape set off back into his inventory room to see if there would be anything of use. Faith's life was now quite literally in Snape's capable hands. With a quick whisk of his wand, the classroom became illuminated with the torches. "No student dies under my watchful eye, Miss Blackwood." His voice calling to her. Hoping it would keep her bound to this world. "No one."
Disgruntled trying to read his labels, Snape deactivated his wand with a simple "Nox." Searching his shelves frantically. There were a few things out of spite Snape had gathered. Not knowing if what she was attacked by was truly a vampire. They were an "Antidote for Uncommon Poisons", Calming Draught, and a specialized "Golden Potion" that he once used on Dumbledore a short while back.
Rushing back to Faith's side, there was clear indication her breathing had become much more sparse than before. Surprisingly, she had still be fighting to stay conscious. Sadly if her allegations were true- there was no known cure for a "Vampire's Kiss" as Snape dubbed it. Just by sight alone, Professor Snape could tell that her attacker simply didn't want her alive. Likely enough, her attacked wanted her dead.
Having the Antidote for Uncommon Poisons was a start seeing that just like the basis of a werewolf bite; vampire kisses operated on the same level of spread. "Drink." Snape demanded out of Miss Blackwood. "There are a few potions I will be having you consume. The effects will hopefully stall and heal the attempts your attacker made on your life."
Faith had struggled desperately to follow Snape's instructions. Their gazes had met. Snape carefully lifted her head to assist her. "Keep your strength, child. Should you falter... you will die." Fear of death didn't keep Faith from preserving her life. In anguish, she was drained. Her life was fading away. No longer could she simply speak her mind. Between her cold pressed lips, however, you could faintly hear her whisper Snape's name.
Without breaking eye contact, Snape had to pour a few drops of the antidote into her mouth. Swift thinking kept Snape on his toes. Perhaps the Antidote wasn't something he should have tried first. Snatching the Gold Potion, he attempted once more to have Faith consume at least a few drops of the potion. That's all it would take to assure the start of her recovery process.
Unknown if at first she had swallowed anything, Snape made another attempt. "If you can consume this... it should start the initial healing of your wounds, Miss Blackwood. If not. I'm afraid I might have to take a painful resolution into my own hands making you quite uncomfortable." Faith gave no response back. "Don't make this more difficult than it needs."
Lifting Faith's body a little more, Snape took extra care when giving another valiant effort upon evaluating all options. "Drink, child." He was still grasping onto hope that Faith would continue fighting. All it would take was a few drops before small changes could take place.
The Gold Potion and what Snape brewed before hand were of very little quantity. Making such brew had only resulted in situations like this. Used only for emergency situations. The greater struggle still was the consumption. Snape was now being soaked in her blood. Faith sensed this in her despair. Successfully capable of swallowing just a few drops. The slashes revived upon her neck seemed to mend before Snape's eyes. The cards were certainly in his favor. Faith was going to survive.
"Speak, child. Tell me you're still alive."
"Istvan." Faith whispered in return. The same name that was uttered just before. "He is the one responsible for this encounter."
Snape in this time frame reached for the Potion of Calming Draught. "You should be able to start healing. For now, I need you to rest." Faith consumed a few more drops of the other potion upon Snape's request. Certainly there were a few words to exchange, but for now she would be knocking on death's door.
The broad statement that perhaps Istvan was the vampire as proclaimed by Faith was certainly a long shot. With evidence of Faith condition, however, was unwavered. Turning Faith over to the Hospital Wing of Madam Pomfrey could be considered a dangerous move. One slight rumor of a vampire and the whole school would most certainly be set into a panic. Which mean Snape's next plan would need to be improvised on the spot. Faith would need to be hidden away in his private quarters of the Slytherin Dungeons. Her condition would need to become an uttermost secret.
With another quick whisk accompanying those thoughts, Snape had dimmed the lighting of his classroom once again. Carrying Faith's body once more, Snape had made haste to exit his classroom and dash down the castle's corridors. He had now been on the lookout for Filch. Questions had continued to turn in Snape's mind. Why hadn't someone like Filch see Faith in this condition? There would have had to been a struggle. These thoughts didn't linger for Snape. All he was concentrated on was getting down into the dungeons and out of sight.
"Just keep breathing." Snape reminded Faith.
Step after step. Tripping over his own feet and down the spiral staircase, Snape had entered his private quarters. The coast was clear. Making due with the best he could; he cleared an area for Faith. Laying her to rest as he set up a makeshift bed. Arranging all he could before slipping off her Slytherin Robes. Faith no longer had the strength to accept Snape's hospitality only resulting in worry. The passage of time was before each of them.
Snape would then spend the rest of his evening searching for ingredients, books or potions relating to Faith's Condition. Vampires were certainly a rare occurrence. An evolved trope among rumors. Mocked at the simple thought of them existing. Only a few had encountered these savage creatures.
... And Faith was unfortunately one of them...
