Disclaimer: This is a fan fic, meaning, I do not own any Harry Potter characters you recognize, I do not own the settings, and I do not own the parts of the books I've borrowed. That belongs to JKR. The plot you don't recognize is indeed mine. I hope you enjoy my playing in JKR's playground!
Author's Note: This has been a long work in progress (two NaNo's and a Camp), and I recently decided I just need to stop obsessing and put this out there. It could always be better - trust me, I can already guess some of the constructive crit and I have scenes I know I could fit in if I worked at it longer! - but I don't think this is a horrible story either and I'm interested in what y'all think.
I know I'll take constructive crit rough but I am welcome to it. Just know that some of the topics in this fic are personal. The self-harm and assault are personal topics and while they didn't necessarily play out this way for me personally, writing about them in this fashion has helped me on my recovery path. So while you might have crit on those, just know they're personal topics so it's not something I'm likely to change in future writing if included.
And that leads me to my WARNING: there are brief descriptions of self-harm and a mention of rape in this fic (thus the high rating). If that is triggering for you, please reconsider reading this fic. I'd rather you stay safe than put yourself in a rough spot because of this fic. Your mental and emotional health and safety are much more important!
Sweetest of Dreams
Albus Dumbledore was dead.
Hagrid had ever-so-gently carried the Headmaster's body up to the Hospital Wing at the request of Madame Pomfrey, who insisted on running her checks over the Headmaster. Everyone knew he could not have survived the fall off the tower even if he had somehow survived the Killing Curse, but the matron insisted and no one had the heart to tell her no.
The matron clucked at the body of the Headmaster as she tried to hold back her tears. Ten minutes later, she finally took the Headmaster's damaged arm and gently pulled it out of his robes. The entire arm was black up to the shoulder; ashy tendrils had worked their way towards his heart. No longer able to hold back her tears, the matron gently placed Albus' arm next to his body, but didn't bother to cover it up. She knew, as she cried, she needed to fulfil her last promise to the Headmaster and the evidence visible from the cursed ring would only strengthen her story.
"Minerva," she called out to the woman from behind the curtains she had put up. "I need you to retrieve a bottle of Veritaserum and a glass of water. Filius," she called for the Charms master she knew had to be waiting with Minerva, "Could you please gather Mister Potter, Miss Granger, and Mister Weasley here?"
She heard scrambling near the curtains and Minerva poked in her head. She had an odd look on her face. "Poppy?" she asked, curious. "Veritaserum? And the Gryffindor trio? What do you intend?"
"I have a secret to tell, a secret concerning Albus' death. And I want no one to doubt my statement. Mister Potter will need to know this if he is to succeed in fulfilling the prophecy," Poppy whispered, tears still falling silently down her face. Minerva's eyes widened and she nodded before turning to gather what Poppy had requested.
-x-
Filius found the trio just outside of the Hospital Wing. He saw their downtrodden faces, though he noted there were no traces of tears. Whether they had been wiped away hastily and a charm applied or they were waiting to break down in private, Filius didn't know, but the strength it took for them either way reassured him that they would be able to handle whatever Poppy's news was.
"Madame Pomfrey would like the three of you to accompany myself and Professor McGonagall. She has information to share and has requested you specifically," he said quietly once the trio noticed him. They nodded somberly and followed him back into the room he had just left. The air in the Hospital Wing felt stuffy, as though one needed to escape from the truth that was hidden behind the one curtained bed.
Filius walked through the curtain to the bed, sure the trio would follow when they were ready. Harry turned to his two best friends, face set but eyes crying for help. He had been witness to his mentor's death and was not ready to face the body again so soon. A single tear fell from his eye, and Hermione quickly reached up to brush it away. "Whatever Madame Pomfrey has to tell us must be important if we must see the Headmaster, Harry," she said, logic kicking in before she, too, started crying. She pulled her friend into a tight hug. "And we'll all be here together. We don't have to go through this alone," she whispered.
Ron nodded his head sharply before wrapping an arm around Harry's shoulders. "Together," he whispered, affirming Hermione's words. Harry nodded, but took another moment to compose himself. When he was ready, the three moved towards the curtain and pulled it back. Harry avoided looking at the body on the bed, but Hermione immediately saw the blackened arm and pulled a hand to her mouth to stifle any gasp she might make.
Minerva had conjured chairs for everyone, and the trio soon seated themselves and focused on the matron. She looked each of them in the eye, then turned and did the same to Filius and Minerva. She sighed, knowing there was bound to be some anger with the news she had to tell and she wondered if this was the smartest way to reveal Albus' secret. She looked pointedly at Mister Potter and Minerva, the two most likely to cause issue, and she wondered if she could convince them to take a Calming Draught. With another sigh, she lifted the bottle of Veritaserum Minerva had brought her.
"What I have to say will not be easy to accept, but I trust that if I take this Veritaserum, you'll believe my words?" she asked, looking at the five one at a time for their affirmation.
"Who brewed it?" Harry asked, as she very much expected. She could feel his suffering, and mistrust of any potion right now that could have been brewed by the former Potions Master.
Poppy arched her eyebrow in disapproval, but she answered the question. "Severus did not brew it," she stated, noticing the flinch of nearly all five at the mention of his name. "This came from the Headmaster's office, brought by Minerva. Remember that Albus was Potions Master enough to brew his own," she explained, and turned to Minerva to confirm that is where the potion had been obtained. At Minerva's nod, Harry frowned but didn't protest her use of the potion.
She turned to the small glass of water, judged the amount, and took a sip before opening the potion. She poured just three drops into the glass of water, doing so where it was visible to everyone. Poppy replaced stopper in the bottle then turned to Filius. "I'll trust you, Filius, to ask the basic questions to determine if the potion is working," she said, waiting for his nod. Upon receiving it, Poppy drained the glass of water, and waited a few moments for the potion to do its work.
Filius waited three minutes before asking the first question. "What is your full name?"
"Poppy Pomfrey."
"What is your occupation?"
"Matron of Hogwarts."
Filius stopped, knowing he needed a question she would fight to answer, to prove to the others she was actually under the influence of the potion and unable to resist it. "Why did you choose to become a Matron at a school?" he asked carefully. Minerva gasped, and Poppy was momentarily stunned, trying to bite her tongue as she eyed the three sixth years sitting right there. Hermione looked at her with comfort, but the two young men seemed clueless. She fought for a moment but her mouth opened before she could stop it.
"I did not want another mother to lose her child due to lack of a healer on staff," she answered finally, as a tear slid down her face.
Filius nodded wisely, accepting the answer as truth. "The potion is working," he said apologetically, nodding at Poppy to begin once she was composed.
"Thank you, Filius," Poppy said softly. Gathering her courage she looked to the young Mister Potter. "Mister Potter," she said, some steel in her voice. "You are not going to like what you are about to hear, but you must hear it all the same. If you cannot accept I am telling you the truth, you will not receive the information you need to defeat the Dark Lord," she said. She watched his eyes narrow, but he nodded sharply. She noted that he had still not looked at the late Headmaster's body, but perhaps that would work in her favor by the end of her tale.
"Minerva, if I haven't finished in the next fifty minutes, I will need another dose of the potion," she said softly, noting the time on the clock and entrusting Minerva to remember as well. It was just past midnight, but her story could not wait until the morning.
"Albus Dumbledore came back with that accursed ring one night, his hand already blackened and useless by the time he got to me," she started, eyes unfocused as she tried to remember every detail. "He sent a patronus to Severus, and I did what I could to ease the suffering and stop the curse, but it was well beyond my knowledge. I could not remove the ring, and I could not stop the blackness from spreading. By the time Severus arrived, the curse had moved on to Albus' wrist. Upon seeing both the ring and the blackened hand, Severus snarled and asked why Albus had given into the temptation to put on one of Voldemort's items. I was shocked - both to hear that the two men both knew well what the ring was, and that Severus had uttered the You-Know-Who's name. He had never done so in my presence before, even when I tended to him after he was called." She paused here, not looking at any of the five gathered before her, but closing her eyes as a tear slid down her cheek.
"Albus, as cheerful as ever, pushed on and asked Severus if he could stop the curse that was on the ring. Severus thought for a moment, but shook his head, not able to look the Headmaster in the face. I am certain he regretted being unable to help the man he trusted as a mentor and feared as his Vow-maker." Minerva gasped at this, and Poppy realized the older woman had not known that Severus had previously taken an Unbreakable Vow with the late Headmaster.
"A Vow, Poppy? Truly?" she asked, as much for herself as for the others present.
Poppy nodded. "Yes. I was their bonder. When Severus returned to us, to the Light, Albus made him take an Unbreakable Vow. The Vow stated:
Severus, will you serve me, Albus Dumbledore, in the fight against Tom Riddle?
Severus, will you do everything you can to protect Harry Potter until he defeats Tom Riddle?
Severus, will you do whatever I, Albus Dumbledore, ask concerning my own health and eventual death?
Severus answered in the standard, 'I will,' to all three statements. I completed the vow as their binder and knew I would be Severus' only other confidant concerning any actions of the Dark Lord. Severus took this vow on November first, nineteen eighty one. The day after Mister Potter's parents had been killed, though Severus had come to Albus months before," Poppy explained, looking Harry in the eyes as she recited the Vow. He could not hold her gaze as he understood the man he hated had vowed to protect him.
Hermione spoke up. "Pardon me, Madame, but do you mean to say Professor Snape Vowed to do anything the Headmaster asked him concerning how his life would end?" she asked, eyes calculating, and Poppy knew she was miles ahead and already putting together the pieces. The girl was brilliant - everyone knew it - and Poppy hoped she would be able to help the two young men sitting with her understand what she had yet to tell.
"Yes, Miss Granger, that is what I am saying," she confirmed softly. Poppy took a breath and continued her story. "When Albus confirmed that Severus could not stop the curse, he called for Fawkes. The phoenix appeared with the sorting hat, and moments later the Sword of Godric Gryffindor was in Albus' hand. He was unable to remove the ring, but he explained it needed to be stabbed if the dark magic in it was to be killed. I did not yet understand what he meant by that, but he asked me to hold his hand in place and asked Severus to take the sword and stab the stone in the ring. Something inside the stone fought Severus, but he managed to stab the stone and Albus sighed in relief.
"He later told the both of us that the ring had been a Horcrux," she said, again looking at Harry. His head snapped up at that word, and that is when Poppy knew. "That is where he took you tonight, isn't it Mister Potter? He had found another?"
Harry looked back at her, a bit afraid but nodded. "Yes," he rasped out, voice tired. "Yes, he has been training me all year on the hunt for the Horcruxes. Tonight's should have been the third, but I've opened it and it's not the real one. It was all worthless," Harry intoned, defeated.
"Not worthless, Mr. Potter. None of what has happened tonight has been worthless," Poppy said kindly.
"The horcrux was killed by Severus, but that did not break the curse that had befallen Albus. The curse continued to work its way up his arm, and there was nothing Severus or I could do to stop it. Severus and Albus figured out a way to slow the progression, but by Christmas the three of us knew Albus wouldn't live past the Leaving Feast this year," Poppy finally admitted. Minerva nodded; Poppy assumed Albus had at least told her the curse would continue to eat away at his arm and could not be stopped. Harry did not look completely surprised either.
Poppy looked at the clock - she had about fifteen minutes left before she would need another dose of the truth serum. "It was at Christmas that Severus was a bonder for an Unbreakable Vow between Albus and myself. Knowing his death was imminent, Albus wanted me to Vow to follow his wishes about his death, and to speak the truth as needed to allow Severus to continue his work. My vow was very similar to Severus' so many years before:
Poppy, will you serve me, Albus Dumbledore, in the fight against Tom Riddle?
Poppy, will you do everything you can to protect Severus Snape in the fight against Tom Riddle?
Poppy, will you do whatever I, Albus Dumbledore, ask concerning my own health and eventual death?
My vows as a Matron already required much of this, pertaining to the health and care of both Albus and Severus, but the Unbreakable assured Albus he could die as he wished," Poppy said, a tear escaping her eye.
Minerva nodded at her to continue, so she would not need another dose of the potion. Wiping her eye with a finger, Poppy continued. "We continued in this way until last week. Albus came in and I checked the progression of the curse. At that point, it had nearly overtaken his shoulder. He knew better than I that this meant his time was nearly done, as the curse had only to progress to his heart and he would die a most painful death. I estimated he had only a week, perhaps ten days, left. Albus called for Severus that night, and the two came to my office here to hold the most serious discussion we could have. Albus was ready to plan his own death."
She stopped to let this sink in, and she knew she would need another dose of Veritaserum. Another three drops were added to a glass of water, and Minerva conjured her a chair, as the few minutes of overlap would be overpowering. She took one look at Harry and saw his anger was still present, but he also appeared confused. He hadn't argued so far with her story, but Poppy wondered if that was due to exhaustion or actual belief of what she spoke. She drank down the glass of water and waited a moment. Her mind was in a haze, and she took another minute for the haze to pass a bit before she addressed Harry.
"Mister Potter, I do believe you saw Mister Malfoy falter in his task tonight?" she asked quietly, struggling to ask questions through the serum. If she hadn't been staring at him so hard, she would have missed his flinch and steely gaze, but he nodded. She could tell he was getting angry, and moved to continue before he would explode.
"Albus knew of Mister Malfoy's task all year. Severus had taken another Vow with Mister Malfoy's mother, Narcissa, to protect the boy and complete his task if Mister Malfoy failed. Albus fully expected him to fail, but as Severus had already taken a Vow to allow Albus to die as he wished Albus was able to use this to his advantage," she explained, but was interrupted by Ron.
"Snape was to kill Professor Dumbledore when Malfoy failed, fulfilling both Vows and therefore not dying by breaking either of them," the redhead stated, one step ahead thanks to his previous knowledge of Unbreakables from his young experience with his twin brothers. He looked angry as well, but a look of understanding passed through his eyes.
Poppy nodded. "Severus would appear to be in Dark Lord's favor and therefore still able to protect Mister Potter by bring back knowledge of the Dark Lord's movements, while fulfilling both Vows. Albus could die quickly and without pain," she explained, head fuzzy but hoping the others would understand. She turned towards the Headmaster, wishing it was not she that was left to explain all of this, but it had been his final wish, a whispered question asked when Severus had left after the plan had been agreed upon.
"Albus explained that this would be best for the war effort, and, selfishly, best for him. He came to me again tonight, Mister Potter, before he left with you. I knew his shoulder was completely taken by the curse, and I saw the start of the ashy tendrils reaching for his heart," she whispered as she looked at the arm she had left uncovered. She urged the boy to look and see for himself, but she was not ready for the sob that left his mouth when he saw it. She gave him a few minutes to compose himself, and she let herself cry some tears as well.
When the young man's sobs had faded and he was being held by his two friends, she shakily told her story to the end. "We knew tonight was likely the last good night he would have. The curse would have reached his heart by tomorrow. Albus knew if the Death Eaters did not show up tonight per Mister Malfoy's instructions, he would die a gruesome death tomorrow. Severus had drawn the line at participating unless he had to by Narcissa's Vow. I had agreed to dose him with Dreamless Sleep tomorrow, but the three of us knew the pain would still be immense," she said before she broke down in sobs herself.
-x-
Ginny Weasley felt broken. The wizard who had helped her the summer after her first year, the wizard who had never looked down on her for trusting that diary, the wizard who kept her in school when so many wanted her gone, was dead.
Ginny knew Professor Dumbledore was not perfect, but she had to wonder if he had seen this coming. Though she was known as a brash and brave girl, Ginny was also quite observant. She had to be if she wanted to avoid the twins' pranks growing up, and she prided herself on noticing what others, except perhaps Hermione, failed to notice. She had learned that summer after being possessed by Tom that the Headmaster often knew more than he let on and that he allowed things to play out - to a point. Yes, he had freely admitted to her that he did not know it was she that the diary had taken in, and he had apologized profusely to her for it. But she knew that he had known it was Tom Riddle's workings. She had gleaned that from what he had told her, though he had not admitted that himself. It was then, at the young age of twelve, that Ginny realized the Headmaster treated situations much like chess. He could foresee a general outcome, and many paths to that outcome, and as the game went on he controlled it to the outcome he wanted. It just so happened that this often meant the pawns were people, and while he wanted the best and to keep as many as he could, sometimes he had to neglect some of his pieces.
She hated herself for thinking this way, but Ginny had seen it often enough once she started observing the workings of the school, particularly pertaining to Harry. The Headmaster knew what he was doing, and she strongly suspected he had known all year who had been behind the attempts on his life. She knew he had to have seen this coming, and she wondered why he hadn't stopped his own death. Ginny knew something was wrong with the Headmaster's hand - all of the school knew just by taking one look at the ashen limb - but was it something that could kill? Was this just another move in a never-ending chess match?
Ginny had not voiced any of this to the trio as they waited outside of the Hospital Wing earlier that night. She knew she shouldn't be there with them but she couldn't help herself. The Headmaster had been a mentor of sorts for her as well as the trio, as she would not have been welcomed back to Hogwarts without his support. She had worked hard to prove she was a strong witch and that he had made the right choice, and she wished she could say her goodbyes to him now. But she did not voice that to the trio either. She watched them, instead, as they grieved in silence. Hermione's eyes had a calculating look, and Ginny wondered if she was thinking through all the possibilities. Harry somehow managed to look broken and angry at the same time, and Ron was trying to keep up their spirits though it was obvious he didn't know what to say to do so.
When Professor Flitwick exited the Hospital Wing, Ginny shrunk back into the shadows behind the trio, knowing that while they had rights to be there in some sense, she likely did not. So as the trio followed the Charms professor into the room, she quickly made her way down to the Great Hall to head back to the common room from there. But as she approached the staircase that would lead her to her bed, Ginny stopped. She did not want to go back to the tower yet, to the mass of Gryffindors bound to be weeping and mourning. She was not sure she could bear that quite yet. So, switching paths, she went outside to the grounds.
She immediately noticed she was not the only student out of their common room tonight, and the professors who were outside with them did not seem to wish to enforce those rules tonight. Instead they directed Ginny to an illuminated area they were watching, but allowed enough space to still be able to grieve in peace. The other students, Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and more than a few Gryffindors. She looked for Luna, but not finding her she chose a spot far enough away to clear her head but close enough for comfort.
Ginny refused to look at the spot his body had been found, and instead turned to look at the Forbidden Forest. In uncertain and difficult times, the forest had always calmed her mind for some reason. It was a dangerous place, but there was so much to see even at the edge it kept her mind focused and busy. This is what she needed now - she needed to be focused to think through everything that had happened.
Harry had told Ron, Hermione, and herself that Professor Snape had killed the Headmaster when Malfoy could not bring himself to do it. But rather than be taken in by Harry's anger at the two Slytherins, she listened to what the Headmaster had said through the entire exchange. It puzzled her. He had offered to help Malfoy, and that is when the Slytherin had faltered. Ginny didn't think he would have done it anyway. She knew something was off with him all year, and he had looked more and more frightened and near death the past few weeks. And then, of all things, Harry said the Dumbledore had asked Snape 'please.' Almost as if he was begging. Something did not seem right to Ginny, but Harry had been too angry and distraught at the same time for him to even think rationally. And that was when Hermione had gotten that calculating look in her eyes, assuring Ginny she was putting together the pieces with information Ginny herself did not have. No, Ginny didn't like Snape one bit, but she suspected there was more to Dumbledore's death than Harry had picked up on and Hermione wasn't ready to share.
Something was off, and Ginny was not sure that Snape and Malfoy were as guilty as they first appeared. Yes, the Killing Curse had been used, and yes, the Headmaster was dead, no one could argue that. But something in the way it was done did not make sense to Ginny. She knew the Headmaster had to have known about Malfoy - there was no room for doubt in her mind on that point. If he had known about the diary in her first year he had to have known about Malfoy this year, especially as the boy had practically wasted away. Ginny knew the Headmaster would not have missed that. Why did he allow himself to be killed? Snape might be a powerful wizard - in fact, she knew he was - but the Headmaster was the only person Voldemort feared, and rightfully so. Malfoy would have been no match for the Headmaster, even if the Headmaster was as weakened as Harry said he had been from earlier in the night. Ginny was certain Fawkes would have come to the Headmaster's aid if needed, just as he had done her first year.
"Definitely something odd," she said to herself, if only to comfort herself and try to explain away how the greatest wizard of the current age had passed away. She stared at the forest harder, as if it would give up the Headmaster's secrets.
Some time passed and she stayed staring at the forest, eyes starting to glaze over as she realized how tired she was. Ginny shook herself awake, not ready to fall asleep on this horrible night. She refocused on the forest, and turned her head to sweep the line of trees as she dug her fingernails into her palms, in effort to stay alert. She had just passed her eyes over the gate at the bottom of the hill when something flashed in the corner of her eye. Ginny jerked her head back, and saw two lumps that had not been there before. She stared for a moment, before one started moving. It was two people, her gut said, and she motioned to a professor to the gate when a rough cry was heard from down the hill. Ginny knew it had come from one of those lumps, and she rushed down towards the gate, two professors running after her.
She skidded to a halt as she drew closer to the gate. She knew that blond hair anywhere and she realized the cries of pain were coming from him. Draco Malfoy. She looked at the other lump and saw black hair, likely greasy, and she knew. Severus Snape was dead, and it sounded as if Draco Malfoy would die all too soon if he was not helped himself.
Ginny didn't know what made her beg with the professors, but she couldn't help herself. She could not stand to see another person die tonight, even if he was the reason for maybe both deaths tonight. "We have to take him to the Hospital Wing. Please! If only for him to later stand trial. Please," she begged, mind rushing.
Hagrid looked at her like she had grown another head, but the other professor nodded, then cast a stunning charm on Malfoy before opening the gate. The blond fell in a crumpled mass, and Ginny could see he was even worse off that she had thought. Hagrid picked up one man in each arm and started towards the castle. Ginny rushed after him, and then past him, bent on at least warning Madame Pomfrey before the two death eaters entered her hospital wing.
-x-
Ginny rushed into the Hospital Wing near tears and gasping, and stopped short, shocked to see the matron sobbing and those around her in tears as well. Then she saw the blackened arm of the Headmaster, and felt like she had been punched in the gut. She had been right - something more had been going on this year. But she couldn't think of that right now, she had to warn them before Hagrid arrived.
"Professor McGonagall, Madam Pomfrey, Professor Flitwick, we need two more beds. I don't care if you expel me for it but you have to help him. I think he's going to die," she said, gasping and speaking around her tears, unable to hold back her grief at the sight of the Headmaster. "Please! Two beds," she begged.
At her cry they five turned and looked at her, but the matron immediately snapped to business. "Two beds for whom, Miss Weasley? Who is dying? What do I need to prepare?" she asked the girl, attempting to compose herself into her matron persona.
Ginny looked at her and prepared herself for the onslaught from Harry. "Draco Malfoy, ma'am. I think he's been beaten and left for dead," she said. She pushed on before Harry could speak out. "Severus Snape will need a bed too, but I'm fairly certain he is already dead." And with that, she waited for the anger as she stared at the Headmaster and sobbed.
Ginny did not notice the matron to go white, nor the trio to stay silent, and she barely noticed it was Professor McGonagall who guided her to her now-vacant chair in front of the Headmaster; her tears were falling too fast for her to think of why this might be. She missed the look that the professor shot Hermione, and she missed Professor Flitwick asking the two boys to please give her some space. They could stay, but must be respectful of the two patients being brought up, at least until they knew more. When Ginny's tears finally slowed, she noticed Hermione was holding her gently and that Madame Pomfrey had two beds ready, tears down her face but otherwise composed.
"Ginny," Hermione said gently. "I know this may come as a shock, and I don't know how to explain it gently. Madame Pomfrey took Veritaserum to tell her story, though I think I would have believed her without it. I've been noticing things this year - and I know you have too," she started, faltering a bit on how to break the truth.
"I know the Headmaster meant a lot to you your first few years here, and I hope that because of that, you can forgive him for the pain he caused when he planned this," she continued, pausing as Ginny gasped. Ginny looked at the Headmaster's arm again and she knew. She knew she had been right. Something odd had happened, and it had something to do with his blackened arm. "Madame Pomfrey explained that Professor Snape had taken an Unbreakable Vow to do whatever the Headmaster wished concerning the fight against Voldemort, to protect Harry, and even to how the Headmaster would die. And when Malfoy was tasked with his task this year, Professor Snape took another Unbreakable Vow to complete Malfoy's task if he failed," Hermione continued softly, staring at the Headmaster as she spoke.
"And, so, that's why Dumbledore had to beg him tonight," Ginny said, connecting the dots as they filled in her own suspicions. "To break his Vows would mean death, but to fulfil them would mean...this."
Hermione nodded. "Yes. The Headmaster allowed this to happen, though Madame Pomfrey said if it had not happened this way, that curse causing the blackening of his arm would have traveled to his heart by tomorrow and he would have died a much more painful death," the older girl allowed, voice faltering. Ginny hugged Hermione and the two cried. Ginny did not need to hear any more at that point. Her observations and quick mind filled in enough of the rest. The Headmaster had allowed Malfoy his chance in order to save Snape and allow himself a peaceful death.
And now, Snape was dead all the same.
With that thought running through her head, Hagrid arrived and Madame Pomfrey took over, directing Hagrid to put the professor in the bed next to the Headmaster, and Malfoy in a bed across the way, closer to the medicine chests and her own office. She shooed Hagrid out after that, and gave a pointed look to the two girls. Hermione squeeze Ginny, and whispered that she would keep the boys in line or force them to leave if things got out of hand. Ginny wished her luck, but stayed by the Headmaster's bed for a few moments more, before she heard a groan from the bed across the way.
Madame Pomfrey had reversed the stunning spell now that Professors McGonagall and Flitwick were back. She had already pulled a curtain around Professor Snape's bed and had turned to Malfoy - the professor was indeed dead. Ginny was startled by the noise coming from Malfoy, and she couldn't stop herself from going over to the bed and seeing how badly he had been hurt. She now noticed the spasms, and she knew of only one spell that could cause that after the fact - the Cruciatus. What had happened to Malfoy?
A raw murmuring was coming from the bed, and it took Ginny a moment to realize that Malfoy was trying to speak even while the matron stressed he needed to keep still, and quiet. Malfoy was fighting her, though, and though she had to strain to hear it, she could hear the fear in his voice. Fear of them, or fear of what had happened, she wondered? She brushed away a tear, and Malfoy jerked his face towards her at the sudden motion. He held her gaze and she saw not only fear in his eyes, but loneliness. His fingers jerked, and Ginny wasn't sure if it was due to the spasms or if it was actually a gesture for her to come forward, but she did anyway. As she drew closer, she could make out his pleas for Veritaserum, to tell them what happened. Ginny figured he could not be in his right mind because he kept begging for the truth serum, but he looked at her again as she grabbed his twitching hand, and she knew he was not crazy. He was afraid of dying, but more afraid he would die without the truth being known.
"He wants Veritaserum," she told the matron, though the hospital was quiet enough that everyone in the room could hear her. Professor McGonagall looked startled and looked to the matron as if asking for permission.
Madame Pomfrey looked at the boy for a moment between mending cuts enough to be able to spell them closed later. "Mister Malfoy, you are in no state to be speaking," she said before moving on to the next cut on his arm. Ginny knew there was worse on his back, and she could not look at the matron's work. Malfoy was murmuring again, repeating his pleas, insisting.
"Madame, he insists. I think…," she paused, then whispered so only the matron and the two professors closest could hear. "I think he is afraid he will die and it cannot wait."
Ginny realized she was still holding his hand when she felt it tighten, and she knew he had been listening to her as well. He started murmuring again, they needed to know. Potter needed to know. And when Ginny relayed that, Professor McGonagall stood up and walked over to the Headmaster's bed to pick up the bottle of Veritaserum Madame Pomfrey had used earlier that night.
Madame Pomfrey dropped the three drops of the potion right on his tongue, as he was in no state to be swallowing with water. "Professor, I insist I take some as well, so you may trust I relay his story accurately," she said, scared, but knowing it was the only way his story would be trusted. She was also, secretly, curious as to what had happened to the Slytherin Prince and why he had fallen so far the past few weeks. Another squeeze of her hand let her know he approved of her request, though he had not asked for it.
A glass of water later, and Professor Flitwick asked both questions to determine if the potion was, indeed, working. He leaned close to hear Malfoy on his own, and when he was assured the potion was working, Malfoy started in on his story. Ginny listened, and when she had as much as she could remember, squeezed his hand to stop him. Madame Pomfrey returned to her work while Ginny relayed Malfoy's words. She occasionally felt him twitch and moan in pain, but she pushed through.
"Severus dragged me away from the tower, insisting that we had to go back to the Dark Lord to let him know Dumbledore was dead," she began, realizing he would only speak of what happened after, to put him in this current state. "When we reached the other side of the gate, Severus gripped me and apparated away before I could escape. I knew what was to come. I had failed. The Dark Lord had assured me that a failure in my task would cost me the life of my mother, just as her life had been forfeit before he assigned it.
"My mother may seem cold to you, Weasley, but she was ever so much better than my father. Protecting her is the most important thing in my life. Protecting her from him...from my father. So I knew I was to see another death tonight, and I wanted to run. I wanted to save her. But Severus took us away before I could escape.
"Little did I know that Severus had already hidden her away from my father. I had received notes from her all year, but she had not once mentioned the Manor. Had I been focused, I would have noticed. Severus had hid her away in a safe house directly after I left for school, after I had received my task that would cost me her life. And this is where he took us when we left the grounds."
Ginny paused, and leaned back towards Malfoy, urging him to continue if he was able. The matron had moved to open his shirt, but Malfoy resisted. Ginny was not sure why, but he whispered for her to direct the matron to his back, and she did so, though in a questioning tone. Malfoy had shut his eyes against the pain, though, and started back in on his story. His words were coming fast, almost too fast, and she stopped him again before he could finish.
"Severus took me to that safe house to see my mother. She said that she was safe. She had saved up enough money for the both of us so we would not have to rely on my father any longer. She had been sending me money all year, which I had saved to run off with if necessary, but she had thought of that. She assured me she was safe, and that gave me the resolve to face the Dark Lord tonight.
"Severus admitted he was her secret keeper, and would not give up the secret even upon the threat of death. With that, we stepped outside of her wards and apparated to where the Dark Lord was gathered. I was immediately ambushed by my own father. Severus and I were separated - Severus to answer to the Dark Lord of performing my assignment, and I to my father.
"My father was furious. I don't think he was even thinking of my mother, he didn't even mention her once. No, instead, he repeated that the failure would have to pay, and the price would be its life. I did not at first realize that he meant me, but then the whip came out and at the first lash across my back, it clicked. It was to be my death I would see tonight."
Ginny looked at Malfoy, but he did not open his eyes. She thought he might break her hand with his grip, but she also knew that the pain she was feeling in her hand was nothing compared to the pain of the cuts, and what she now knew to be open whip wounds. Could he still be feeling all that pain through the numbing spells she was certain were used? She leaned down to whisper that he could continue, and she heard the rest of his story, attempting not to cry but unable to stop the tears from falling. When he was done, she sniffled and he opened an eye and saw her tears. "I do not deserve your tears, Weasley," he managed before closing his eyes against the pain again. She knew he spoke what he believed to be true, because of the potion, but she could not agree with him.
She was determined to finish his story before more of the potion was needed, so she rushed his telling to the others. "Father used that whip as I have come to expect, but I had not anticipated the others joining in. Cruciatus was used while he continued to whip me, and I did not know how to handle that combined pain. Separately, well, I'm used to that. I hoped I would pass out from the pain and die without knowing the end would come. The spell was lifted, and then the boots came, from my father, mostly, but he let the others join in. Someone broke my wand hand, not that I had been allowed my wand anyway. The torture continued, and I was not allowed to come to the point of blacking out. My father stopped just before then.
"Severus...I don't know where he was. I did not know he was not one of them until someone touched my head lightly and asked me to keep ahold of their cloak. Then the voice spoke louder, and I realized it was Severus. He begged the Dark Lord to let me live, as a servant, nothing more, but my father was enraged. I don't know what happened, but I heard my father cast the Killing Curse, then we were spinning, and we landed in front of the gates. And Severus wouldn't move. And then I knew he had sacrificed himself for me. And to protect my mother."
Ginny could not stop her tears, though thankfully they were silent and since her back was to the trio they weren't visible to anyone but Malfoy and Madame Pomfrey. She felt Malfoy's hand loosen in hers and she started to panic, squeezing it until he mumbled something about sleep. "Madame Pomfrey, can he sleep?" she asked, trying to keep a note of panic out of her voice. When the matron nodded and went back to her work, she squeezed his hand lightly before letting go.
She did not notice Professor McGonagall ushering Harry, Ron, and Hermione out of the Hospital Wing, off to discuss Malfoy's story with them and ushering them to bed. She also did not notice Professor Flitwick giving Malfoy a look of sadness, and perhaps a bit of pity, before he followed them out. All Ginny could focus on were a few key points from Malfoy's story.
He had only taken on the task to protect his mother.
He had been tortured before, both by whip and the Cruciatus.
And he felt he deserved to suffer.
Ginny wasn't sure what she thought of Malfoy and she knew there was more to his story. But she couldn't help but feel sorry for him, being persuaded by threats and torture to go through with this assignment, especially as she had some small insight to the mind of Tom Riddle herself. Tom, at the age of sixteen, was a horrible person, twisted and cruel. She could not imagine how much worse the man he became was now. And she could only assume that the threats and torture were worse than being put under the Imperius Curse, though they led to nearly the same outcome.
Madame Pomfrey was finally done with Malfoy's back, and she gently turned him on his back so she could finally work on his torso, now that he could no longer protest. She did not shoo Ginny away, so she stayed, wanting to help but not knowing what to do. Though she had helped in the Wing before, she hadn't ever experience this level of healing. But she knew how to take instruction, so at the matron's gesture she helped maneuver Malfoy out of his shirt, though it did not take much as the matron had had to cut the back away to work on the cuts there. When Ginny looked down and saw his torso, she gasped and felt more tears coming.
"His back was worse," Madame Pomfrey allowed and she got to work. "The scars there look to be years old, and he still had bruises from months ago if the depth was any indication." Ginny just shook her head. She could see scars criss crossing his body. Some rather new, some faded enough that she knew they were rather old. But the bruising was what drew her eye. Black and blue bruises covered green and yellow bruises, and there was hardly a spot that was his natural skin tone. She also noticed an odd angle to his collarbone, and couldn't help but ask the matron about it.
"It looks like a badly healed break," Madame Pomfrey allowed. "Some of his ribs are probably in the same state. I could re-break them and attempt to straighten them before healing them, but it will likely reawaken him," she muttered to herself, though Ginny was able to hear. "And it might not work," she continued. The work on the bruises did not take too long, though Ginny noticed the bruise paste didn't heal the green and yellow bruises. She pointed at them, unwilling to ask for fear of the answer. "Too old, dear. The magic of the paste only works within a certain amount of time of the bruises appearing," the matron said, allowing herself a tear.
With that, the matron moved back to her cabinet and looked at the bottle of Skele-Grow. She could vanish the badly healed bones and allow them to regrow, but that would likely be even worse than rebreaking them and healing them that way. She took the bottle anyway, and prepared to awaken her patient to ask his preference, but she noticed he was waking up on his own when she returned.
His moaning was enough to let her know she had not been able to take away all of the pain, even with the multiple charms at her disposal. She had not missed the tremors from the Cruciatus, but she had nothing to help with that pain. Severus had not told her if he had something or not, though she suspected he had been working on a potion for just that. She held back a sob as she glanced at the man's body on the bed next to the Headmaster's. He may have performed the curse, but Poppy knew it had to have broken his soul to do so. She only hoped he was in a happier place now.
Madame Pomfrey snapped back to her patient when she heard him murmuring to the young Miss Weasley again. She heard the word Horcrux and Potter, and Miss Weasley looked shocked. Poppy saw the girl glance at the clock and she knew she was wondering if the truth serum had worn off. She believed it had, but did Malfoy know that? She was not sure, but she would talk to the young Miss Weasley after she had finished with Mister Malfoy.
"Mister Malfoy. Draco," she said as calmly as she could, finding some reserve of compassion even at three in the morning. "Your collarbone and some ribs are very badly healed. I can fix them, but neither option will be pleasant." He managed a nod, with a wince, and she continued. "The first option would be for me to re-break the broken bones, causing you a lot of pain both during the break and as I straighten them, but then I could heal them right after. The second option is to vanish the bones, then use Skele-Grow to regrow them over the next few hours. What do you prefer?" she asked, knowing if he was anything like Severus, he needed the chance to choose. A moment later and he lifted one finger. Option one it would be, then.
"Miss Weasley, can you please move around and hold Mister Malfoy's shoulders down against the bed? He will fight you once I start to re-break the bones, but I need you to pull him back against the bed," she instructed, back in matron mode and ignoring everything else for now. Ginny's eyes were wide, but she nodded and moved to hold him against the bed. When Poppy was certain they were ready, she started with his collarbone. The boy screamed and fought against the girl, but he was weak and Ginny Weasley knew how to fight back after having six older brothers. She pulled him back, fast, and Poppy moved on to his ribs. Four in total would need to be healed, and each break hurt the boy more, but he fought less as the pain began to overtake him. Poppy quickly healed the breaks and administered a long-acting pain reducing potion before letting him fall back to sleep.
Ginny didn't seem to know what to do with herself now, and Poppy was surprised the girl was even able to stay awake at this hour. But she still had one more thing to ask, and she suspected she knew what the Malfoy boy had told her. It was not something he would have wished the girl to know, but she had to ask. "Miss Weasley," she asked of the girl as she sat in the chair next to Mister Malfoy's bed. "Did he tell you about the last Horcrux Mister Potter will have to face?"
Tears filled the girl's eyes as she nodded. Poppy flew over to her side and grabbed her into a tight hug. "Albus believed he would come through it alive, Miss Weasley. And if Albus believed it, then I believe it as well," she intoned, as the girl sobbed. When she had quieted, Poppy directed her to a bed next to Mister Malfoy, assuring her she could spend the rest of the night there until she had the energy to return to her common room. No sooner had Ginny's head touched the pillow and she was asleep.
Poppy sighed. She closed the curtains around Severus' and Albus' beds, knowing she would have to return to them in the morning, but she needed a few hours of sleep herself. She placed an alarm charm on Mister Malfoy's bed, so she would know if anything changed overnight in his status, and assured she had done all she could for the time, Poppy retired to her bed for a few hours of sleep.