Chapter Thirty: Fatal Reflections

            Mercury ran like molten lava on the thin blade that caressed the girl's throat.  She looked into Lucius' face and caught her breath, staring at him in absolute terror.  She had never harbored such fear for him, but now, a strong déjà vu gripped her, wiping away her breath and mad rage.  The cold sting of his blade was far too familiar; as was the way he held his sword and the manner in which he looked down at her – full of intense vehemence and aggression.  Snape rose off the wall and stumbled toward Lucius, violently pushing him aside, crying, "Have you gone mad?  The mere touch of your gladius could kill the girl!"  As the Potions Master shoved the Death Eater away, the titanium blade stung her skin like the numbing bite of a snake, sliding into her vein with ease as if it were parting water.  Quicksilver ran into the cut, its current mingling with her blood until her vein had turned a pale shade of gray.  Natalia felt all this in a state of shock, completely removed from reality.  The sight of the professor pushing aside Lucius Malfoy sent her reeling back into her memory, causing her mind to frantically grasp for distinct memories, but to no avail, enclosing her in a faint recognition of the scene stronger than any memory could affect her.

            She fell back against the wall, overwhelmed by the incredible burden of this recollection.  Her legs slowly gave way as she crumpled, sliding down the wall.  Everything in her vision became a blur, her heartbeat slowing to a faint flutter.  Snape caught her the moment before her head struck stone and drew her limp body off the ground.  He shook her, looking worriedly into her clouded eyes.  "Natalia," he called to her, "Natalia, are you all right?"  He placed a finger on her neck, tracing the silver line that was left of the deep cut in her skin. 

            "You have poisoned her," the Potions Master uttered, "The mercury from your blade has seeped into her blood!"  The girl slumped and fell limply in his arms.  Her pulse slackened as she drifted further away from the present.  Snape picked her up and carried her out of the dungeons, hurrying off to the Infirmary.  "Lucius," the professor called over his shoulder, "Go find Albus and tell him to send for Asklepios immediately!"

Madame Pomfrey was rearranging the Disinfectant Potions when a loud crash startled her, bringing with it the Potions Master carrying in a pallid Slytherin girl.  He rushed past the nurse and carefully placed Natalia on the closest bed.  Her breaths were ragged and shallow, her eyes, unclear and clouded over.  A deathly white had seeped over her skin as her body became cold and clammy.  "Goodness, Severus!  What has happened to Natalia?" the nurse cried.

            Reaching into his robes, Snape brought out a thin vial.  "She has mercury poisoning," he muttered, uncorking the vial.  He lifted the girl's head and gently parted her lips with his finger, carefully pouring the clear liquid into her mouth.  As the liquid ran down her throat, she gasped, her heart lurching violently to resume its beat once again.  Her eyes slowly closed as a death sleep rapidly enveloped her mind.  The professor carefully slipped a pillow behind her head and turned to Madame Pomfrey, handing her the vial.  "Although she has gone into a comatose state, her condition should be stabilized," he began, "This, is Ornias excretion, and is to be administered to her every hour.  It will keep her heart beating, but be wary that you do not give her more than one drop per hour.  Any more than that will cause her heart to give out."  He quickly pressed the vial into the nurse's hand and hurried away to the dungeons, preparing to find an antidote to cure the girl.

            Albus Dumbledore found the Potions Master looming over a cauldron, his face drawn in worry and concentration.  The Headmaster quietly entered the classroom, watching as the man carefully stirred a thin red liquid.  "Severus," the old wizard began, "Lucius has informed me of Natalia's condition."  The professor looked wearily at the Headmaster, barely breaking his concentration from the potion.  "He also informed me of the duel between you and Natalia." Dumbledore added.  A hush settled between the two men, filling the room like a third presence.  Snape finally pierced the thick silence, quietly saying, "Did he also tell you that he nearly killed the girl?"

            The old wizard sighed and took off his spectacles, rubbing his eyes in fatigue.  "He told me that he had only meant to scare the girl out of her rage, and that she would not have been hurt had you not pushed him away, causing his sword to slip."

            The Potions Master snapped his head up, saying heatedly, "And I suppose that it is not suspicious that he just happened to appear at Hogwarts to frighten the girl out of her anger?"

            The old Headmaster sat down at a desk, slowly placing the spectacles back on the bridge of his nose.  "He said he had come to deliver a Veloxium 1497 to Draco in person as a surprise gift for the boy's first game."

            "And you believe this ludicrous excuse?" Snape hissed.

            "Severus," the old wizard said sternly, "You know very well that I do not believe a word the man says without weighing everything carefully first, but you cannot expect me to blatantly question him of his motives.  You should know that would do much more harm than good."  He sighed again, folding his hands carefully.  "Although, after you administer the antidote to Natalia, we may be able to find the reason for her abnormal rage through the use of the Pensieve."  The Headmaster looked up at Snape again, saying, "I shall leave you to your work now, Severus.  Do try and get some rest – it is well into the morning already."

            The Potions Master rolled his eyes, replying, "The girl needs this antidote far more than I need sleep."

            Dumbledore sighed and headed back out the door, stopping when Snape asked, "Has Asklepios been called for yet?"

            "Yes," the Headmaster replied, "The Healing Master should arrive in two days.  He has been delayed due to political complications.  Oh, and Severus," he added, "Do not forget to attend the Quidditch game today."

            Snape rolled his eyes again.  "Would I ever miss a Slytherin game?" he muttered with a sneer.

            Daphine Austerus lay sleeping soundly in the Defense Against Dark Arts quarters, her breathing so slow and quiet it barely rose above a whisper.  She lay behind piles of books, her face pressed between pages of Power Transferrations: The Act of Drawing Power and Defense Against Extractions.  Her body lay in the chair with her arms crossed beneath her head, but her spirit rested in her birth tree, the willow.  A sharp knock on the door brought her soul back into her body and awoke her.  She raised her head sluggishly and slowly brought a hand to her hair, patting it all in place.  Rising, she went hastily to answer the insistent knocking, noticing that it was seven in the morning.  Opening the door, she saw Professor Snape standing impatiently in the corridor.  "Severus," she said curtly, "Are you aware that it is seven o'clock in the morning?"  The Potions Master frowned and after a moment, muttered, "My apologies, I was not aware of the time.  Austerus, I assume that you know of Natalia's condition?"

            The aging dryad nodded slowly, her silver hair catching glints of light. 

            "This evening, I have been brewing potions in search of an antidote for Natalia to extract the mercury from her blood, but I have come across some complications.  I understand that in your past, you have developed a certain expertise for the art of extraction."

            "Severus," the woman said with a tinge of impatience in her voice, "If you are asking for my assistance, please just do so without the tedious introductions."  She swept past him, leading the way back to the dungeons, into the potions classroom.

            As they entered his office, Austerus peered curiously into the cauldron.  "I have found that the antidote calls for something stronger than leech carcasses," the Potions Master explained, "In the past," he continued, "Have you ever possibly come across an article or substance that has the power to extract and remove matter from blood itself?"

            The dryad's brow knit together in thought, her mauve eyes darkening a shade as she recalled something in her expansive memory.  "Severus, the only thing that has such power is terribly dangerous to acquire and even more so to use.  A vampire's fang is the only such article that has the power to extract matter from actual blood cells.  Has Natalia been poisoned this severely?"

            Anxiety spread over the Potions Master's face.  "One of her major veins was exposed to large amounts of mercury, so much, that the wound sealed itself up with a mercury layering within a minute after she was cut."

            Austerus raised both eyebrows in alarm.  "I did not know it was so dire.  Yes, then a vampire fang is the only thing that will work with your extraction potion, although, I cannot guarantee that she will live after being administered this antidote.  Her blood cells may very well turn on themselves and start to degenerate.  And our own lives will be at stake if we go vampire hunting, and I can almost assure you that we will not make it out alive.  Only Baliman warriors are known to hunt for such creatures." 

            "This is a risk we will have to take, Austerus," Snape replied quietly, "She is the Bearer.  Her life is more precious than any of ours as she is the redeemer of the apocalypse."

            The dryad narrowed her eyes, weighing the possibilities carefully.  "If you think so, Severus.  We will have to leave for the Black Forest tomorrow night if we are to restore her health.  We should also ask Sirius and Firenze the centaur to come with us.  With them, we will stand more of a chance."

            The Potions Master nodded in agreement as he walked Austerus out of the Potions room and the dungeons in time for breakfast.  As they left, Amicus perched quietly on the shelf, noting everything they had discussed regarding the extraction potion.

            Harry and Ron chattered animatedly about the Slytherin vs. Ravenclaw match that would occur in the afternoon.  They barely noticed the worried look on Hermione's face until she spoke up, asking, "Is it just me, or do all the professors look particularly troubled today?"  The two boys stopped their prattle and turned to the girl. 

"What are you talking about 'Mione?" Ron asked. 

"Look at Professor McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey.  They're barely talking at all.  Usually, they are gossiping away during meals, but today, they look like they are all dreading something.  Even Snape has forgotten about the breakfast in front of him.  He looks like someone's going to send him to the Minotaur."

Ron snorted.  "Bloody Snape always looks that way."

"No, Hermione's right, Ron," Harry said quietly, "Look at Dumbledore.  Even he looks particularly worried." 

Hermione looked around the Hall and grew pale as her eyes scanned over the Slytherin table.  "Natalia's not here," she uttered, her eyes growing wide with dread.  She leaned toward the other two, whispering, "Do you think something's happened to Natalia?"

Harry's eyes darkened as he looked over at the Slytherin table.  "I'm sure she's fine," he said tersely, "After all, she is the Bearer, so she should be able to take care of herself.  She probably just overslept like always."

Ron looked at Hermione feebly and shrugged.  He only hoped that whatever had happened would resolve itself soon.

The Black Forest was coldest at this time of year, shrouded almost entirely in mist.  An old peddler hurried into the heart of the forest, into a nest of dark towering trees.  Unexpectedly, from his right, a dark figure flashed by, faster than any mortal eye could have perceived.  The peddler kept his pace, walking steadily to the center of the forest, undaunted by the shadowy presence that followed him.  As he reached the thickest part of the forest, he leant against a tree, resting for a moment.  Suddenly, from behind him, a tall form snaked toward him, wrapping a hand around the man's throat.  The peddler quickly grasped the figure's hand, twisting it and flipping its owner's body above his own, bringing the menacing character onto the ground.  The peddler quickly pulled out a large blade from beneath his cloak, bringing it to the figure's throat.  "I assume you know from the searing touch that this is the blade of Svarog, the sun god.  I am going to offer a proposal to you.  Should you choose to deny it, you will be killed."  The peddler drew the vampire up, slamming him against the closest tree.  "Now listen.  I am in need of one of your fangs for an extraction potion, and I know well that if a vampire's fangs are taken from them involuntarily, it will cause the death of whoever uses it.  However, I also know that if you voluntarily give me one of your fangs, it will have the power of extracting the most potent poisons from the bloodstream.  Now, here is my offer.  You must well know that the apocalypse has begun.  I will guarantee your protection if you give to me in exchange one of your fangs."  The vampire looked at the man, sneering. 

"You think you have the power to protect me, old man.  I am immortal.  If I chose to, I could kill you right now, regardless of whether you had the blade of Svarog or not."

The old man slammed the vampire's head against the tree once more, peering at him closely.  "Look me in the eye, Fatarnae, and tell me that you do not believe I have the power to grant you life or rid you of it."  The vampire's gaze fell on the peddler's deep violet eyes, sending him reeling back into the bark of the tree.  He shuddered violently when he saw the power that resided in the peddler, stammering, "Yes, yes, please, I give you my fangs as a gift.  Take both of them if you need.  Please, just spare me."

The old peddler released the vampire and brought out a clamp.  "There is no need for two.  One will be sufficient."

The Quidditch stands were packed with spectators, displaying the house colors like floods of spilt paint.  The Potions Master hurriedly took a seat next to Dumbledore, nearly missing the players' entrance.  "Severus, good afternoon," the Headmaster greeted, "Lovely day, isn't it?"  Snape sneered but bit back a snide remark.  "Of course, Albus."  As his eyes swept over the stand, he saw long white hair waving in the breeze.  "Lucius," he growled, turning to the Headmaster, "He has the nerve to come here after he threatened Natalia's life." 

"Severus," Dumbledore said, holding up a hand, "Calm yourself.  Set aside the matter until after the game, please."

Draco flew over the quidditch pitch, searching fervently for the Snitch between the players below.  As he hovered above the field waiting for Madame Hooch to signal the start of the game, a sinking feeling settled in his stomach.  There was something awry about the atmosphere, but he could not distinguish what it was exactly.  He sneered when he saw Cho Chang weaving her way through the Ravenclaw players in search of the Snitch.  Her Firebolt is no match for my Veloxium 1497, he thought, I can't wait to see the look on bloody Potter's face when I send his girlfriend crashing to the ground.  The thing neck of the Veloxium 1497 lay in his grip like a swan's neck, its handle curving in a wicked curl with slender scallops that arched down the wood in aerodynamic perfection.  Draco smirked as he made a sharp turn effortlessly, plunging down to the Slytherin stand, soaring an inch from the front row's student's faces, drawing cheers from the Slytherin crowd.  He grinned back at them, looking for a certain person.  His face fell when he saw that she was not present.  Worry wormed into his mind as he ascended back above the Quidditch field.  He had not seen Natalia all day; she had missed all the meals and all of her classes.  His face settled into a frown as he wondered if something had happened to her.  His attention was brought back to the game as he heard Madame Hooch's whistle.  Hovering for a moment more, he swerved to the left when a glint of gold caught his eye.  From his right, he saw a Bludger coming at his head, and at the mere thought of dodging it, the Veloxium 1497 twisted to the left without the slightest command from Draco.  He grinned as the Bludger flew by him, marveling at the quality of the broom.  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cho chase after the Snitch.  Draco barely began to think of pursuing Cho when the Veloxium surged forward, reacting to his every instinct.  In less than a second he was flying adjacent to Cho, sneering at the girl as he passed her up, following the Snitch's sharp turn upwards.  Cho reared back and flew around the Hufflepuff stand, taking a higher route to meet the Snitch on the other side, causing her to nearly crash into Draco after turning.  The Snitch suddenly veered to the right, leaving both Seekers suspended midair for a moment before Draco stopped a millimeter away from the Ravenclaw, jerking down to the right in pursuit of the Snitch again.  "Blimey!  That was a close one!  Ravenclaw Seeker Cho Chang suspends momentarily stunned as Slytherin Seeker Draco Malfoy dashes after the Snitch!  And Cho is off!  There she goes in hot pursuit behind Draco!" Lee Jordan exclaimed as the two Seekers zigzagged zealously in between the other players.  Another Bludger came at Draco, nearly taking off his head.  The Slytherin ducked and surged forward, swerving in an arch and turning sharply around again.  The two Seekers charged at each other, rushing for the Snitch between them.  They both extended their hands as the distance between them lessened, the two coming so close together that their fingers brushed each others as they simultaneously closed their hands around the Snitch.  Draco felt his broom brush the Ravenclaw's as he grasped the cold surface of the Snitch between his fingers.  He gripped the Snitch harder, attempting to pull it away from Cho, but ended up only grasping her fingers and pulling the Ravenclaw Seeker toward him.  Both of them looked at each other in alarm as they realized that the Snitch had completely disappeared into thin air in their hands, sending the two Seekers crashing into each other, tumbling towards the ground.  Draco's Veloxium jerked up and away from Cho's Firebolt the moment before they hit ground, sending Cho crashing into the sand and Draco rocketing toward a Ravenclaw Beater. 

"Holy Moly!" cried Lee, "The Snitch has disappeared!  Ravenclaw Seeker Cho Chang has fallen to the ground!  Is she hurt?"  Everyone in the stands rose up from their seats and murmured excitedly at the disappearance of the Snitch.  Dumbledore looked at Snape, giving him a worried, unsure look.  The Headmaster approached Lee and requested the stand from him.  Amplifying his voice, Dumbledore said, "Students, please stay calm.  The Snitch is probably just having one of its tempers and should reappear within the next few days.  Now, according to the scoreboard, the Ravenclaws has sixty more points than the Slytherins, therefore deeming this game a Ravenclaw victory!"  Every house except for the Slytherins cheered in delight.  Cho was helped up from the Pitch by Madame Hooch, and escorted to the hospital, where Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed, concerned about their Ravenclaw friend's condition. 

"How do you feel, Cho?" Harry asked after Madame Pomfrey had applied a disinfectant potion on the girl's cuts. 

"Oh, much better, thank you, Harry," she replied with a sincere smile.  Hermione and Ron grinned at each other like a bunch of idiots, watching Harry rekindle his romance with the Ravenclaw.  As the two were talking, Hermione noticed that the back portion of the hospital wing was sealed off with a curtain.  She frowned, whispering to Ron, "I wonder what kind of deadly diseased patient is hidden behind there."  The redhead chuckled, nudging the girl toward the curtain.  "Hey," she said, "If I'm going, you're going too."  Ron rolled his eyes and followed Hermione to take a peek at what was behind the curtain.  As they were about to part the screen, Hermione stopped suddenly, turning quickly to Ron.  "Do you smell that?" she asked. 

"Smell what?" Ron demanded, impatient to see the mystery behind the curtain. 

"It smells like…jasmines," Hermione muttered, "Strange, it reminds me of…"  The girl's eyes flew open in fright as she realized whose scent it was.  "Ron, it's Natalia."

"What?"

Hermione grabbed his hand and pulled open the screen, leading Ron into the back wing of the infirmary.  Both children stopped dead as they came upon a bed accommodating a body as pale and deathly as a winter morning sky.  The Slytherin girl had completely lost all color and had taken on a sickly shade of silver white, resembling the moon in a terrifying way.  Her breaths came in sudden, unexpected rasps, each one more unnatural than the last.  "Oh my…" Hermione gasped.

"Um…Hermione?"

"What Ron?" the girl hissed.

The redhead turned a shade of crimson.  "Uh…my hand, you're gripping it a bit tightly." 

Hermione looked down at where she held Ron's hand.  His flesh had turned white with her finger marks.  She blushed, looking back up at the boy.  "Sorry, Ron.  I'm just rather shocked."  She turned back to the bed where Natalia lay, placing a hand on the girl's skin.  "She's as cold as ice," she noted.

            Ron looked at the girl, frowning deeply.  "I wonder how she got like this," he whispered, not daring to touch the girl for fear he might kill her.  Suddenly, the curtain was drawn open, revealing a cross Madame Pomfrey.  "I specifically closed off this section of the infirmary so no one would bother Natalia." the nurse said very sternly.

            Hermione turned to the nurse, looking helplessly at her.  "Madame Pomfrey, what has happened to Natalia?"

            Madame Pomfrey looked at the Gryffindors carefully, and after a long moment, said in a quiet tone, "I am not supposed to tell you this, but since you have seen her already, you might as well know.  Natalia has gotten mercury poisoning."

            Hermione gasped in horror as Ron stood beside her, confused and scared at the same time.  "What's mercury poisoning?" he asked tentatively. 

            The girl turned to him, saying in a hurry, "Mercury is one of the deadliest poisons in the world, and the only way to get poisoned by it is by getting it into your bloodstream.  If this is done, it is nearly impossible to remove the poison, which means that…"  Her voice trailed off as she looked at Madame Pomfrey in horror.  "She isn't going to…die, is she, Madame Pomfrey?" the girl whispered.  The nurse looked back at her unsurely and said in a wavering voice, "I assure you that Natalia will be perfectly fine.  Now, if you will please leave the infirmary, I have work to do."  She hastened the children out of the hospital wing, leaving both Gryffindors in the corridor in shock.

            Snape rummaged through the drawers of his office, searching for the birch stake he had stored away years ago.  He was so busy packing for his journey to the Black Forest that he did not notice that the dragon that usually perched quietly in his office was missing.  "Dammit, dammit!" he cried, throwing the drawer that was in his hands across the room, sinking his fingers into his hair in frustration.  He paced around the room restlessly, unsure of how to prepare for this vampire hunt.  The Potions Master finally gave up the search for the birch stake and collapsed dejectedly into his chair.  After a long agitating moment, a knock came from the door.  "Come in," he muttered, irritated that someone needed his attentions.  An old man in a tattered robe stepped into the office, carrying on his back a large basket of wares.  Snape frowned and snapped at the man, "I have no need for a peddler right now, and you have no permission to be on Hogwarts grounds.  Take your goods and leave immediately."  The old peddler looked up at the Potions Master, smiling patiently. 

            "My dear boy," he began, "I know of your frustrations and I am here to help you."

            Snape glowered and hissed, "What in the world are you rambling about, old man?"

            The peddler's smile broadened as he set his large basket down.  He dug inside, looking for an item buried deep within the heap of goods.  "Ah, ha!" he said triumphantly, bringing out a small velvet pouch.  "Here you are.  Consider this as a gift from the gods." the old man said before turning and leaving once again. 

            Snape sat at his desk in confusion as he stared at the pouch that lay before him.  He slowly picked it up and cautiously untied the silk rope, peering carefully inside.  The object that lay within stopped the Potions Master's breath.  With shaking hands, he reached in a brought out a single vampire fang, large as the tip of his pinky.  After a moment, he sank deeply into his chair, sighing from relief that the dangers of the night had been removed.

            Four hours later, the Potions professor made his way up to the infirmary with the Headmaster, tired beyond belief but successful in brewing the perfect mercury extraction potion.  Dumbledore stood quietly at his side as Snape carefully lifted Natalia's ashen head, parting her lips carefully and pouring the thin red liquid into her mouth, watching as the potion disappeared into the depths of her throat.  "Thank you, Severus.  I am sure that the poison will be completely extracted from her system now.  Asklepios should be here by tomorrow and her recovery will complete."  The Headmaster looked closely at the Potions Master's exhausted face and added, "Severus, I suggest you go and get some rest.  It has been too long since you last slept."

            Snape gave him an irritated look and protested.  "No, I want to see what caused her rage.  I shall go rest after you sift her thoughts into the Pensieve."

            Dumbledore shook his head and said sternly, "No, Severus.  The process may take quite awhile, and I can tell you the cause of her fury tomorrow morning.  I insist that you go rest now."

            The Potions Master gave him one last aggravated look and then moodily sulked out of the infirmary.  Dumbledore sighed as he looked at the girl lying on the bed.  He conjured up the Pensieve and laid it on the nightstand beside her, taking out his wand and tapping the girl's head with it.  "Delego Sententia" he whispered, transferring Natalia's thoughts into the stone basin.  The old wizard peered curiously into the bowl of silver cloudlike matter, sifting through the thoughts until he reached a minute greenish black mass.  Carefully, he placed a finger in the substance and said "Emineo", projecting the thought in front of him.  Dumbledore saw the olive matter dissolve and turn itself into a dream, the very dream that Natalia had of the man in the chains with the snake atop his head.  The Headmaster frowned deeply, uttering, "Loki…"  He peered into the basin once again, and saw that the demon had latched himself onto Natalia's mind through the dream, and had magnified her anger to cause her mad rage.  Dumbledore touched the dark green cloud with his wand and whispered "Erado", erasing all traces of Loki's influence.  A moment before Dumbledore restored the girl's thoughts, a dark gray line caught his eye.  He peered closer at the line and saw the déjà vu that Natalia had received subsequent to the duel.  The old wizard followed this line to the actual memory, followed it past her memories at Hogwarts, past her recollections of Durmstrang, even past the birthday when she had first received the Shangri-La.  What appeared in the memory stopped Dumbledore's breath, causing his face to grow darker than it had ever been since the day Voldemort came back.