Chapter 25
Another Emergency
A rapid and worried knock sounded early morning, awaking Mae from her sweet, sweet dreams.
Groggy, she walked over to the door and pulled it open, only to be shoved aside by her sister.
"Woke up late this morning, I'm a mess, I don't have my things. Where are those ingredients?" She flitted around the room like a hummingbird, never in the same spot for too long.
Mae watched, worried for her sister's well-being. "Do you need any help?"
Eliza stopped a moment, turned her head to face the other woman and eyed her skeptically.
"Get dressed, quickly. Follow me." She barked.
Mae nodded, snapped her fingers and suddenly a set of navy robed adorned her figure. Similar to the ones of the previous day.
Eliza ran up the long staircase, Mae on her heels.
The woman with dark curls had her arms full of bottles and vials, each a different shape and filled with a different coloured liquid.
"Eliza, what's happened?" The redhead asked curiously, concern apparent in her tone.
The Potion's mistress didn't speak until she reached the corridor.
She turned to face her twin and took a moment to breathe, winded from the sudden hike.
"Marjorie..." She took another deep breath. "Severus is very, very ill. I don't know what he has, and I need to treat him immediately."
Mae nodded, seeing the fear in Eliza's eyes. "Welcome to your first day in training."
"What do you need me to do?" The apprentice inquired.
Eliza pointed down the hall. "I need you to go get Albus and Poppy. Alright?"
"Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey. Understood. I'll be right back." And she headed down the hallway.
"Bring them back here!" Eliza called out, before turning to Severus' chamber door.
Mae walked briskly, searching her memories for where the Headmaster's office was.
"I don't remember." She whispers to herself.
Then, as soon as the words left her mouth, Dumbledore came around the corner.
"Ah, Miss Barron! How are you?" He announced gleefully.
Her eyes lit up at the sight of him. "Sir! I was asked to come fetch you and Madam Pomfrey. Severus is ill."
Albus' eyes widened. "Ill? How ill?"
The apprentice shrugged. "I don't know. Eliza is figuring that out now, she is tending to him this very moment."
The Headmaster nodded and followed Mae. He sent a patronus to the Healer on his way to the dungeons.
Along the way, Poppy joined them. Eyes filled with worry and hair a mess from having only woken up moments earlier.
***
"Oh, Severus. Don't do this to me. Not now. What's going on? I simply cannot figure it out."
Dark spiralled hair was tied up with a ribbon as she got to work, performing all the diagnostic spells she could think off.
The man lay in his bed, completely still except for heavy breathing rattling his chest.
Sweat drops adorned his forehead and his face was even paler and sallow than usual.
She placed her hands on either side of his face and tried to pull some of the pain and illness from him.
She felt a struggle and looked into his eyes. "I need to do this to save you. Let me in."
She tried once more and again there was struggle. "In the name of Merlin, let me help you!"
With that, she forced her way through his mental wall and pulled as much as she could.
An exorbitant amount of pain rushed through her veins. She bit her bottom lip to refrain from screaming in agony. She left her hands on his face, fighting to heal him. Sickness made her dizzy and feeling unwell, the vision grew hazy, yet she held on for dear life.
The three people ran through the open doors and Madam Pomfrey screamed.
"No!" She shouted, taking in the sight before her.
Dumbledore stared in awe and Mae started to cry.
Eliza's body was surrounded in a protective shield. Purple light was all around her, energy filled the room. It was windy, the power around everyone was overwhelming.
The faint silver glimmers of patronuses flew up above the ball of energy and glided around one another.
A graceful bat swooping around, dancing. A sneaky margay slinking around quietly. They became more and more apparent and brightened the more they came in contact.
Suddenly, Severus' body jerked and he sat up. Eliza's hands slipped from his face. Everything disappeared.
Eliza fainted and fell.
She seemed to fall in slow motion. Severus tried to catch her but wasn't quick enough.
Mae jumped forward and caught her twin's body. She sat on the ground and lay her sister down. The redhead held the other woman's head in her lap, stroking her dark chestnut curls.
Poppy stared blankly. Dumbledore's eyes were wide, still processing what he had just witnessed. Severus stared angrily at Eliza, but his scowl didn't reach his eyes. They were filled with concern, agony and pain.
But a pain that Eliza could never remove. He was in pain from seeing her seem so lifeless in her sister's arms. His only solace was seeing her chest rise and fall as she took deep breaths.
"To the infirmary, I suppose." Poppy whispered.
She moved toward Mae to take the woman from her. "Why don't we just leave her here. She would be less embarrassed than if you moved her."
"I suppose that is an option." Dumbledore said. "Poppy, with Severus and Miss Barron at your disposal, you have all the ingredients necessary."
The nurse nodded and Mae helped her lay Eliza on the soft bed beside Severus.
In a very out of character show of affection, he lay down again and turned towards her, gazing at her sleeping features.
He brushed aside stray curls that stuck to her face by sweat. He trailed the back of his fingers from her temple to her chin. Finally, he placed his lips on her cheek.
"She's cold." He muttered.
Mae nodded in agreement, even though Severus was facing away from her.
He sat up once more and stood hesitantly. He wobbled and sat back down.
"What is it, Severus? I shall fetch it for you, you needn't move." Mae offered.
The man in black nodded. "In the farthest cupboard down the hall, there is a green duvet."
The other Barron girl returned with the blanket and covered her sister with it, making sure she was warm and comfortable.
"Sleep well, Eliza. I'll come back to check on you later. Today, I'm going to study with Slughorn. He's replacing you. At least, that's what the Headmaster said." Mae smiled sadly and pressed a tender kiss to her sibling's forehead.
She turned on her heel and left with Albus, closing the main chamber door on her way out.