Minerva had to stay in the Hospital Wing for only three more days, before she could convince Poppy that she was well enough to get on herself.
The smell of garlic was insufferable in the infirmary.
"Must you keep that thing in here, Poppy?" Minerva asked at least fifteen times a day. "It's disgusting."
"Yes, Minerva, I must," Poppy answered every time. "It's for your own protection. You wouldn't want to be drained from your blood by the vampire, now would you?"
"But you're killing me with this smell," Minerva complained, burying her face in her pillow in an unsuccessful attempt to escape the smell.
During her stay in the infirmary all the members of the staff came to visit her, as did all the ghosts, all the students still at school, and even a couple of house-elves. Even Peeves found his way to sneak past Poppy and play a few friendly tricks on Minerva, probably just to make sure she remembered he was still around. Alfons was not allowed to come of course.
Minerva was flattered that she meant that much to everyone at the school, but also embarrassed because everyone saw her in her weak condition.
Her friends brought her Christmas presents down to the Hospital Wing for her, so she wouldn't miss all the holiday fun. Minerva was rather touched by all the care she gained from everyone. She wondered whether she really was such a good friend to everyone to deserve this good treatment.
"Well, you certainly play a big role in all of our lives," Poppy admitted one day, while sorting Minerva's gifts on the table. "For some of us you are a great role model," she added, then fell in thought for a moment. "Though I am not quite sure about Sybill..."
Minerva gave an amused snort.
Finally, in the fourth morning, Minerva was free to leave the garlic stench and the intense care of Poppy. The air out in the corridor felt so fresh for Minerva that she gave out a sigh of relief, before inhaling a deep breath happily.
"I never knew you hated garlic that much," Severus commented as the two of them started to walk down the hall side by side.
"I don't," Minerva answered briskly. "But I have never had to live in the smell for days. It's horrible, believe me."
"I feel for you," Severus said without much feeling. "Poppy is going to put garlic all around your rooms this evening as she told me."
Minerva groaned. "Does she really have to?"
"At least she allows you to go about your business, carrying a simple crucifix. It doesn't smell a bit."
"Well, I guess that's okay," Minerva agreed. "But garlic... I can't get the smell out of my things for months."
"You know, you almost sound like a vampire yourself," Severus noted dryly. "It is a side effect of a vampire bite, after all."
"Severus!" Minerva scolded him in an irritated voice. "Surely you don't think that-" She stopped mid-sentence, considering the facts for a moment. Then she shook her head. "No. Not possible. I would feel it if I was turning into a monster, wouldn't I? Besides, I am not afraid of the crucifix nor the sunlight," she justified, indicating the golden cross in Severus's hand. "And even you said that the smell was awful."
"You may be right," Severus said finally as they stopped in front of Minerva's office.
"I will fetch some of my work and then retreat to my rooms," Minerva told the wizard. "I don't need an escort anymore, thank you," she added before Severus could speak. "You may as well be on your way now. I believe it would lighten your mood to catch some students at some kind of rule-breaking."
Severus frowned, but nodded silently.
"Keep away from Alfons," he said, shoving the crucifix into Minerva's hand, and turned to leave.
Minerva watched him go and shook her head with a slight smile. The wizard always wore that mask of bitterness, but every now and then she could see behind it. She could see the man who cared for his friend and who would stand up for her in case there would be a need to.
She entered her office, realizing now how much she had missed her comfy armchair by the window and her filled bookshelves. She walked to her desk, put the cross aside, and started to gather the parchments she would need to catch up with what's been happening in the school during the last two weeks.
The knock on the door behind her didn't bother her a bit, and she called, "Yes. Come in!", without turning around. She had merely heard the door opening and the visitor taking a couple of quick steps, when she felt someone's cold breath on her nape.
Minerva turned around quickly, finding herself facing Alfons, and she gasped in surprise. The vampire stood scaringly close to her, his hands twitching in the desire to grab hold of her, his eyes burning with the lust for her blood. From between his lips, curved in a gentle smile, two long white teeth could be seen. Other than that Vereiha seemed quite human, his blonde hair and all.
Minerva backed against her desk, searching her mind for something to say, as her hand moved across the desk, seeking desperately for the crucifix.
"A-Alfons..." she stuttered in fear. Vereiha took a step closer, standing almost against her now. "Go away. Now! I don't want to hurt you."
She had found the crucifix. Her hand closing around the precious thing, she ignored the strange soft tingling pain as she touched it. But she hesitated to use it against Alfons.
When he attempted to move closer and Minerva pushed her other hand against his chest to keep him away, Vereiha grabbed her by the shoulders and that was enough for Minerva. She raised the crucifix if front of Alfons's face, and the speed with which the vampire retreated was unbelieveably fast.
Minerva took a brave step towards him, with the cross held firmly in her outstretched hand. The vampire screamed madly at the sight of the holy object and fled from the room with his feet barely touching the ground.
Only when the monster was already out of sight, Minerva's hand started to tremble and she dropped the crucifix on the floor. Clutching at her heart, she sat down in the nearest chair, wondering silently where had all her Gryffindor courage gone.