Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters created by JK Rowling. I only choose to use them to write fluffy little stories for my own amusement.

A Last Resort

Chapter 1: A Last Resort

A dark figure moved down the hallway with a quickened pace towards the bedchambers of Albus Dumbledore. Vile in hand, he threw open the large doors to find some of the staff gathered in a circle around his oak bed. Madam Pomfrey, who had been desperately trying to keep Dumbledore conscious, paused to glance up with weary eyes at Severus, who held the bottle triumphantly towards her.

"This should last more than six hours," he said quietly, fully knowing that anything at this point that he could conjure up could not help the old wizard ever completely recover.

It had been three days since the attack on Professor Dumbledore happened within the sacred walls of Hogwarts. Three loyal followers of Voldemort had been posing as students for the past two years, enough time to learn where and when the opportunity for the perfect time to strike; when they knew that he would be most vulnerable. It had happened during the ceremony celebrating Dumbledore's birthday. The three had volunteered to present him with the cake that had been tainted with a powerful potion that caused him severe anemia. Because of his elderly state, it was hard to counter and almost impossible to cure.

"We can't carry on like this any further," Madam Pomfrey exclaimed. "With every day he is weaker. We are increasing the risk of another attack by Voldemort's followers. Next time it will surely be fatal."

"What do you suppose we do then?" Severus shot back. "I have been stayed awake for three days now trying my hardest to keep him alive." He turned away so that the rest of the group would not see the shame in his red-rimmed eyes. He felt that he owed so much to Albus for his wisdom and compassion, and now he was allowing him to die.

Madam Pomfrey shifted uncomfortably in her chair and glanced nervously at Minerva. "There is only one way. I think you should tell him."

Professor McGonagall nodded and motioned for Severus to follow her into the next room. She looked at him with tired and sad eyes. Like Severus, she had stayed awake since the attack, never leaving Dumbledore's bedside. She cleared her throat. "Severus, Madam Pomfrey has concluded that the only way we can possibly save him is through a blood transfusion. Only then can we assure that he will be strong enough to thwart another attack."

"Alright then, I'm sure we can find a donor somewhere. Why hasn't this been mentioned before?"

Minerva paused to look at something outside, as if trying to gather her thoughts before continuing. "It has been mentioned before, but there's a catch. Albus has an extremely rare blood type that is only shared with members of his own family." She sighed. "I think you know what I'm about to ask of you."

Severus stared at the ground for a while. He knew exactly what she was about to ask, and he didn't like it. "There has to be someone else. Please." He looked at her with a mixture of anger and disparity.

"She is the only family that he has left. I'm sorry, I know about your past with Cecilia, but she needs to come back in order to save her uncle. She must know what danger he's in, and what danger she could possibly be in if Voldemort discovers the cure and tries to hurt her." She placed a compassionate hand on his shoulder. "Think of this also as your second chance to make things right with her again."

Severus pulled away at that last statement. "Right again? Nothing can ever be right with her again," he spat, the cold blackness returning to his eyes. "If you forget, Minerva, she gained so much contempt for me that she abandoned her life here to go live with muggles. How do you mend something like that when she never took the time to listen to me." He slumped against the wall as the painful memories sidelined him.

Professor McGonagall offered him a smile and patted him on the shoulder. "You have to understand, Severus, of the anger and confusion she must have felt. It was too overwhelming for her. However, if you do not change you mind about Cecilia, then please think of the other party." She motioned to Professor Dumbledore, who was still unconscious.

"I'll do it, but only for Albus." With that, he spun around, his cape creating a swirl of blackness behind him, as he went to prepare for his travel to the States. He sighed heavily as he thought of facing the girl who broke his heart five years ago.