Well here we go. This is going to be my first long Sev story and boy is he in for a bumpy ride :) I hope you enjoy this first chapter! R&R!
He leaned over the cauldron, the knife in his hands glimmered brightly against the eerie green glow the bubbling substance produced. With his sleeve rolled back, he carefully applied pressure to the knife and forced it into his skin. He let it cut deep enough to draw blood and watched with hawk eyes as three drops flowed from the knife and into the potion below. He drew his hand away from the potion and waited till it bubbled to a pale blue. He cast a spell at it and dashed out in search of the final ingredient.
The air whipped and crackled around his black angled figure hunched over on knees in a clearing deep in the forbidden forest. His arms reached out towards the ground creating a twisted silhouette in the moonlight. He fingered the red flower carefully, examining the pointed petals and other parts of the flower under the bright glow from his wand. He kneeled down further in the dirt and pulled a small pocket knife from his robes. The thick stem of the delicate flower was gingerly sliced and then charmed with protection. Opening a dark leather drawstring bag, he deposited the flower inside.
In search of another flower, he shoved aside the weeds surrounding remaining stem. He winced as pain shot up his arm into his head. His arm flared red, still slightly raw and bleeding. Cursing his stupidity at entering the forest with an open wound, he cast a charm on his arm which cleaned it and wrapped it up in a white bandage. After looking through a mess of black flowered weeds, he located the second red flower. A sparkle caught his eye but he ignored it, eager to finish the task at hand. He cut it like the previous one, charmed it, and shoved it into his bag. Then he sprang up, hopped on his broom and hurried off to the castle.
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Rushing into his potions lab, the two red flowers were quickly pulled out of his bag. He removed the incantation and slowly placed them delicately into the already bubbly cauldron. The blue liquid let out an abundance of steam and turned a golden red color. Satisfied, Snape poured a portion of the fluid into five separate vials and corked them shut. He cast a spell at the cauldron so he could jar the rest of it later and hurried out of the lab to the hospital wing. His head ached as he rushed but only when he neared the doors of the infirmary did he slow his pace to long deliberate strides.
His boney fingers pushed open the door, gaining him entrance to the room. The five curtained beds seemed to glare at him as he walked towards the first one. His steps clicked on the cold tiles loudly. Pulling back the curtains of the nearest bed, he gazed at its occupant before kneeling at the bedside and rousing its occupant back to reality. The figure in bed moaned and slowly focused on Snape before closing his eyes again in pain.
"Sev'us?"
Snape nodded slightly even though he knew the man could not see him. He hated to see him like this.
"Albus, can you sit up?"
Albus reached out towards Severus who grasped the trembling hand in his own healthy one. He helped the feeble man sit up. As he snaked his arm around Albus to help him sit up, he marveled at the deadly efficacy of the disease. Within two days it had rendered many of the staff worn and weak as if they were three times their age, slowly weakening its victims until their hearts shut down. The infection was highly uncommon, the Fragarachic virus. There had not been an outbreak in over fifty years. The cause was unknown but the whole castle was immediately charmed with a spell to ward out the virus. Severus was not sure how the rare virus attached itself to its victims but here they lay, waiting for death. For the Fragarachic virus destroys all its victims. No one in record ever lived after being touched by its hands. It worked quickly and painfully, drawling its victims into the pale clammy hands of death.
Once Severus had Albus sitting up with the man leaned slightly against him for support, he pulled out a vile from his leather bag and held it in hesitation.
Albus's eyes weakly peered open to gaze at Severus's wide eyes. He reached out slowly in an act of comfort and touched Severus's cheek to break him from his thought. Despite his weary and pain filled state, his lips quirked up slightly. His eyes twinkling up at the dark man who gazed fearfully down at the weak man, fully knowing he would die soon.
"I was hoping you would come see me, my child."
His voice rasped and came out as short gasps for air. His fingers trailed Severus's jawline, taking in the man's face. Snape sucked in a breath. His eyes darkened as he gazed back at his dear friend. Then uncertainty passed through his eyes as they flicked from Albus to the vial in his hand. Albus, noticing something catching Snape's eye, slowly turned his gaze upon the vial in hand. Albus let his own hand fall weakly upon the bed. His eyes turned tiredly back to Snape's face.
"I…"
Snape began but the pressure in his chest stopped him. He stilled, gazing with trepidation at the vial. His gaze was broken as Albus spoke slowly to him.
"Is that why you have not been to see me?"
The weak tone of the headmaster caused a spark to flare in the potion master's eyes. They flashed with fire as he brought up the vial for Albus to see clearly. He locked onto Albus's gaze and spoke with deliberation.
"This could save you."
Albus's eyes locked on the vial and turned back to Snape.
"It could stop this wretched death from taking you. Or, it could give you a life worse than death, even a death more horrible and vile than Voldemort himself could ever create, if I failed."
Albus took in Snape's serious expression and nodded. He closed his eyes and leaned back into the warmth of Severus's supporting side, opening his mouth in compliance. Snape was grateful he agreed. He might have shoved it down the man's throat if he did not take the medicine. There was too much of a chance that he could live. But it could also…He took in a shaky breath.
"Albu-"
"Seveus"
Albus opened his eyes and stared into Snape's uncertain ones.
"Either way, we die."
Snape nodded and tipped the man's head back while lowering the uncorked vial to his lips. After Albus drank the potion, Snape positioned him back in bed. He coughed slightly but remained unchanged.
"Go"
Albus squeezed Severus's hand causing him to choke back an oncoming sod at the weak yet tender gesture even when he could have just handed the man a death more horrible than the one he already faced. Nevertheless, he set his hand down gently, covered him with a blanket, and moved to the other bed.
The pulled back curtains revealed Minerva looking just as pained and tired as Albus. He approached cautiously, uncertain. She moaned slightly in pain which abolished the awkward feeling he felt. He gathered her into a sitting position like he had with Albus, leaning her against him for support. She growled and hissed at the movement, and Severus found himself speaking gently to her.
"Hush Minerva; it is going to be okay."
Her hissing dried to a slight whimper, and she slowly willed her eyes to open.
"Sev'us?"
He pulled out another vial while she stared at him with befuddled eyes.
"This could save you."
She glanced at the vial and looked at Severus.
"Or it could give you a death more terrible than you could conjure."
"Albus ha' tak'n it 'ready ha'nt he?"
Snape hesitated, but nodded his head slightly. He held out the vial imploring once more.
"It will save you."
She glanced back at Severus. The plead was almost noticeable in his voice. If she had not known him for so many years, she might have missed it. But, it was there. Let me save you. You cannot die. Too tired and exhausted with sickness and pain to think more, she nodded. She doubted she could refuse any request if he asked her with such need in his voice. He never asked for anything.
He carefully tipped the vial down her throat and helped her lie back in bed. He moved from her bed to the next covered bed. He treated Flitwick and then Hagrid which proved to be the most awkward as he attempted to help the man sit up. However, They each accepted the vial without question. Lastly, he came to the final bed and pulled the curtains to reveal another frail witch.
He stepped forward and drew Poppy's weak form into his arms like the others. Medical witch be damned, there was no way she was going to not take the potion now that the others had. If it worked, he would never forgive himself if he let her talk him out of giving her the potion. He roused her attention and showed her the vial in answer to her questioning gaze.
"This could save you."
Poppy's eyes widened as she looked from the vial to Severus and back again.
"or…it might give you a death more painful than you could imagine."
Poppy's gaze flicked with pain as she gazed at the vial.
"Sev'us, tested?"
He looked away guiltily, then back at her.
"Poppy, you have no time."
She gazed with trepidation at the vial, as if it was a snake ready to strike her. She started to shake her head. Even in her exhausted state, she knew what the consequences of drinking the untested potion could be more than any of the other teachers.
"Poppy."
Like Minerva, she gazed up at the Potions Master in shock. There was no mistake; he would not let them die without trying. This time, not even his composure could mask the raw plead in his voice. Unable to refuse him, she acquiesced. He tipped the potion down her throat and laid her back to rest. He stepped back and grabbed a chair to watch the five professors. He stayed there. Waiting. Listening.
The time passed slowly. The harsh breath of the sick reverberated off the walls and pounded into Severus's skull. His eyes locked onto the now sleeping wizards and witches before him. Perhaps the potion would not go wrong. But if it did… He growled. They could not die. Not when he had worked so hard to save them. A spark caught his eye. He jumped up and rushed to the Headmaster's bedside.
The man's skin started to emanate an orange-red glow. Albus started to thrash painfully and whimpers escaped his lips. Snape was about to grab him to stop him from harming himself when glowing green orbs the size of a period suddenly rose from Albus. His body arched painfully as it left him, and he collapsed back into the bed in a heap. The same happened with the others four. Severus stood frozen to the spot. He watched as the green orbs flashed a blinding red light and then disappeared.
For the next minute, Severus remained frozen with only the staff's heavy breathing filling the room. Tentatively, he walked towards Albus and reached for the man's hand. As he grasped it firmly, Albus stirred in a confused daze and looked around him before his gaze settled on Severus. Recognition alighted in the man's blue eyes as he regarded Severus. He reached out with his free hand towards Severus who grasped it in his other hand. The grip was strong. Severus could hardly tell a minute ago that Albus had lay in bed as a weak, frail, old man on his deathbed. He looked so full of color and life, so full of life.
"Severus, my dear brilliant child? What have you done?"
The twinkle in Albus's eyes was maddening, causing him to glance at his hands. His lips quirked slightly, but he did not allow himself to smile. He took a shaky breathe and examined the Headmaster's figure. It was as if the illness had never happened. He released one of the man's hands to pull out his wand.
"I do not know."
Albus relaxed tiredly into the bed, exhausted from his fight with the illness. Severus raised his wand and muttered incantations over Albus. After he had finished, he shot up quickly and spelled all the others in bed. He let out a shaky breath and pulled himself away from the beds. All five patients rested, completely healed. He had done it. So far, they were living. Yet, he would not allow himself a victory so soon. What if there where side effects? None of the spells indicated any problems, but if poppy was well, she might be able to detect a problem. For the scans did not even indicate that Severus had given them a potion, and that was unusual.
Exhaustion started to sink into his soul. His nonstop work and research on the potion since he learned of the disease two days ago weighed him down. He had spent all his time pouring over books and past attempts of a cure, struggling to create something that could spare them. All the previous researchers were intelligent. Severus knew they were great scientists who almost discovered the cure.
The only different between Severus and them was they were afraid of the dark arts. Severus knew the arts. He was known for them. They were his passion, his past obsession. Where they were afraid to trend, Severus dived into. He doubted the five professors would have accepted the vial so easily if they knew dark magic was the secret to their current supposed survival.
Tomorrow was the third day. They third day, they were going to die according to the virus. He could only hope that his potion really had done the trick. He glanced around at the sleeping professors one last time before removing the sleeping charm he had placed on Professor Sprout earlier in the night who was watching the infirmary for the night in place of poppy. He slowly trudged towards the dungeons to his rooms.
His body ached. His chest ached from pressure. He wanted so much to fall asleep but knew the results of his work still remained in his personal potions lab. He walked through his room until he reached it. Pushing aside the door, he walked over to the charmed cauldron and froze. His eyes widened, and he immediately charmed his room to alert him of anyone who might have entered the room.
The potion was gone. The charm only showed his own magical signature in the room and when he inspected the cauldron not even a trace of the former fluid was evident in it. He growled in anger. Had someone stolen the potion? For what? No, he would know if someone broke into his rooms. Hogwarts would have alerted him when he cast the spell. Then what? Did he really take the entire potion with him and not remember? Perhaps he cast a vanishing charm instead of his preserving charm? He looked over the room wildly looking for any trace of the potion in a vial or spilled on the floor.
Nothing.
He stood still and allowed his right hand to massage his flaring temples. He could not work like this. He needed to sleep. Leaving through the open door, he walked into his bedroom. He charmed his room to alert him if he was needed in the infirmary and stalked to bed. After undressing, he slipped into bed and let out a strangled breath, trying to coax his body to relax into sleep.
He glanced now and then at the door, wondering if something would go wrong with the five sick staff members. After an hour of restless tossing, he sighed and slipped on his clothes in defeat. He trudged angrily into the living room and settled in his favorite black leather armchair. Starting a fire in the fireplace in front of him, he pulled essays from the small mirrored table next to him and started on grading them. Despite his exhaustion, he worked through the night. The anxiety prevented him from falling asleep. He would have to wait until he knew his five patients were in perfect health before sleep could ever claim him.
The only sound in the room was his scratching quill and the tick of the clock on his mantel.
It ticked throughout the night.
So, what did you think? :D Will Sev have used his mad skills to heal the five professors? Please review :)
