Disclaimer:

All characters in the story are the property of J.K.Rowling and Bloomsbury Books, with the exception of Eleanora Sterling, who is my own creation. This story is created purely for the entertainment of myself and other like-minded readers.

I make no money from doing this, so please don't sue me!

Any opinions, political or otherwise, on world events, personages or governments expressed in these pages, are the opinions of the characters speaking them and not necessarily those of the author.

- Grey Lady

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Prologue

The time is the present.

The Wizarding Wars have escalated to such a degree that Dumbledore feels the time has come for his most valuable soldier and spy, Severus Snape, to leave the safety of Hogwarts Academy and return to the fold of the Death Eaters in order convince Voldemort once and for all that he is truly on the side of the Dark Lord.

But something has gone wrong. Long suspecting that Snape has been acting as a double agent and is really spying for Dumbledore, Voldemort accuses him of duplicity. In spite of Snape's valiant attempts at hiding his real purpose, in a horrific trial the truth comes out. Voldemort exacts a terrible punishment on him.

Leaving him for dead in the Forbidden Forest, Voldemort hopes to leave a frightening message for Dumbledore and his allies. Luckily, Snape's broken body is discovered in the forest by Remus Lupin, who returns him to Hogwarts before death can overtake him.

Nora Sterling, a young mediwitch and former student, has returned to Hogwarts to assist Madame Pomfrey in caring for the many casualties of war. Her presence will have a profound efect on Snape's recovery and his future.


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Chapter 1: The Crisis

"Nora, come quickly! One of Albus' best operatives has just been brought into the ward," Madame Pomfrey called out, unusually agitated and rousing me from a sound sleep. "He is very badly injured!"

It had been, up until then, an unusually quite night. There were no patients in the infirmary ward on this particular early July evening and I had retired to my chambers early.

All of Hogwarts students and most of the teaching staff were away on holiday. The school was being used as both a staging ground for operations in the terrible days of struggle against Lord Voldemort. Casualties of the war who could not be safely sent to St. Mungo's often occupied the Academy's convalescent wards. We had seen many unfortunates who had run afoul of the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters. Some of their injuries were grave indeed, but after treatment and a "de-briefing" by Prof. Dumbledore most of them were able to continue on their way and return to the battle.

At the invitation of Madame Pomfrey, I had come back to Hogwarts, where I had been a student for two years in my late teens. Shortly after graduating medical school in the "real" world I realised that as a witch I would never be personally fulfilled practising conventional medicine in a Muggle hospital. Hearing news from my old friend and mentor that the Wizarding Wars were heating up over in Europe I decided it was time to return to the only place I had ever known where some folk had accepted me just as I am.

Hastily drawing on my robe, I ran to the ward in time to see Hagrid, Hogwarts' half-giant groundskeeper, run in followed closely by Dumbledore and another man I recognised as Remus Lupin. Hagrid was carrying a man whose injuries were so severe that Madame Pomfrey seemed to lose her usual composure in her rush to prepare a bed for him. Although Dumbledore's concern for our other patients was often evident, I could tell that this man's injuries excited anxiety far beyond anything I had seen in him before. I presumed that whoever this was he must be very important to Dumbledore.

"What has happened, Albus?" Poppy exclaimed.

"We aren't sure. Remus found him like this in the Forbidden Forest" Albus began.

Remus seemed out of breath but joined in with his version of events. "There were Dementors nearby. I sensed they were nearby and investigated to see why they were so close at hand. I saw them moving away from Hogwarts grounds through the forest and following them, that's where I found Severus lying on the ground. I believe they've done their worst and left him for dead. I ran for Hagrid to help me get him back to the school before it was too late."

"How many Dementors were there, Remus?" Poppy asked.

"Two, I only saw two of them" Remus replied, still panting. Poppy made no reply to that but threw Albus a concerned glance. In our experience the presence of even one Dementor was cause enough for alarm.

Hagrid was now placing the unconscious man on the bed. He was quite a mess. Long black hair was plastered to his pale face with blood and dirt. He seemed to bleeding copiously from a serious gash in his forehead or scalp. His robes were torn in several places and it was evident he had multiple injuries. One knee was bent at a very unnatural angle. But most alarming was the injury to his left forearm. It appeared that the flesh had been removed from the inner arm almost down to the bone. The nearest remaining flesh was black and charred and a faintly green electric glow could be detected playing about the edges of the wound.

"Heavens," Poppy exclaimed, examining the arm. "It will take more than a simple healing potion to clean this mess up. I fear there's so much Dark Magic still present in the wound that it will take a long time to heal."

Madame Pomfrey regained some of her usual efficiency and we immediately set about undressing the patient so that we could assess the extent of his injuries. In spite of Dumbledore's obvious concern, Poppy had to wave him off. "I realise, Albus that it is paramount that he regain consciousness as quickly as possible so that we can begin to counteract the effects of the Dementors' attack. But I cannot begin to treat him properly with everyone hanging about." He backed away slightly while Hagrid and Remus respectfully retreated to the other room.

Finally, seeing his friend was in good hands, Albus prepared to leave. "Poppy, please summon me immediately when he awakes. If he is at all up to it I must find out exactly what has happened to him and why the Dementors left him here, of all places. I fear the worst for him, and for us!" Poppy nodded her reply as we continued the daunting task of peeling away the man's clothing and cleaning the more obvious wounds. I knew her well enough to realise that she did not think our patient would be up to conversation for some time.

As to the patient's mental condition at this point, he was still unconscious but his torment was obvious. From his tortured facial expressions it appeared he was struggling with some terrible mental agony. If, heaven forbid he had received the kiss of the Dementors, he might never recover.

Poppy directed me to begin straightening and healing the injured knee, while she saw to staunching the flow of blood from the head wound. It took nearly brute force to get the injured leg back into position, but once in place I was able to coax the kneecap back where it should be. Some of the torn ligaments would still take a bit of time to heal, with the help of a potion which I rubbed into the affected area, but at least I was able to put the injured kneecap back in the right position so that the healing could begin. I bound the wound with some good old-fashioned elastic bandages in order to keep everything in place and added an immobility charm to the leg muscles for good measure. The joint would be almost as good as new in a day or two.

I wished I could say the same of the wound on his arm, not to mention whatever injuries were inflicted on his mind.

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NEXT: While You Were Sleeping