I must admit, I was thrilled to get the few reviews that I got. . . I suppose that I didn't get as many on this one because it's Drama, and not Comedy, unlike my other story. Ah, well, whatever the reason, I was still happy to get them. Okay, so here we go!
Chapter Two: Carpe Enspiritus
"How is the Professor, Poppy?"
It was well past midnight, and Dumbledore stood with Madame Pomfrey, watching the two prone figures on the beds before them anxiously.
"Remus is. . . better than I had expected him to be, Albus." She indicated the figure in the left bed. "We are fortunate to have gotten him so quickly. . . had his bones not had time to heal before the moon. . ." she trailed off, knowing that he would understand what it was that she meant, even if she could not bring herself to say the words.
There was a sudden silence, empty, yet full. Remus had also, Dumbledore was well aware, suffered some internal damage, bleeding, mostly. A surprisingly little amount of it, really, given the condition that he been delivered in, and the torture from which he been taken, but still, it was enough. Beyond that, it had been the cuts that had pained Dumbledore the most. They crisscrossed his entire body, some jagged and deep, others just barely nicking the surface. But all sprung from hate, and that, the Headmaster knew, could scar a man deeper than mere wounds.
Dumbledore looked again at his Dark Arts Professor. At his friend. Remus would live; for now, that had to be enough. The rest would be dealt with later-if, that was, it could ever truly be dealt with.
"And Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore asked suddenly, turning to the second figure laying quietly on the right-hand bed.
Pomfrey hesitated, and Dumbledore tensed, almost unconsciously. This, he surmised from her apparent reluctance, would not be good news.
"H-he's. . . dying, Albus," she said it quietly, her words echoing in the all but empty infirmary.
"How?" the old man asked, unsure, suddenly, of his own voice.
"Voldemort," she said shortly, her voice still quiet as the grave. "He placed Carpe Enspiritus on him, and-" Dumbledore closed his eyes in silent pain, unable to stop the gesture. "But it is in such a form as I have never heard of it being. Only one of Voldemort's blood can lift it from him."
"How would such a thing be managed?"
Pomfrey frowned. The art of the Applied Possibilities of Magic had never really been her forte, especially not when it concerned magic as archaic as this. Carpe Enspiritus was a very old spell; she herself had studied it as a girl in school, and she personally believed that it had its origins in Elvin culture. As far as she knew, not a single case of it had ever been cured. Though, throughout the majority of the time it was used, it was rarely recognized, until it was too late, so. . .
"One of the casters blood would have to initiate a bond with the victim, within a time period of no more than two days. However, this would only be a temporary reprieve from the spell. In order to make the recovery permanent, the one bound would have to be bound completely; mind, heart, body, soul. . ."
"They would have to fall in love?" Dumbledore's eyes had opened again, but they had lost their inner twinkle. Such a task might prove impossible.
"Or in hate," Pomfrey nodded, checking the boys' pulse. "And the emotion must be so strong as to override all others. If it is not. . . well, I would hate to think. . ." she didn't finish. She didn't have to.
"They must be of the Dark Lord's line?"
"Of his blood, yes," Pomfrey frowned again. "But Albus, I am worried. What if we can't find anyone? We have but two days, and Voldemort has no children-"
"None living." Dumbledore agreed darkly, scowling softly. Pomfrey looked shocked.
"You mean, he once had one?"
The Headmaster did not respond. Pomfrey continued, "But then there truly is no hope! Draco Malfoy is the Dragon of Merlin's' prophesy! He and the Gryphon are the keys! If he does not live-"
"He will live." Dumbledore interrupted smoothly, quietly. "And the prophecy will be fulfilled. The Gryphon will come. He will."
There was a moment of silence, and then: "But, Albus, the bond must be completed mind, soul body-"
"Bring young Lion to me."
Pomfrey said nothing. Nor did she move. "The Lion and the Snake, he ordered again. Still she did nothing. "Now!" he bellowed, the walls all but shaking from the force of his rare, and powerful, outburst. At last, drawn and pale, she went to do his bidding.
He looked down at Draco Malfoy, watching the pale young man as he slept. //Innocent, he appears in sleep,// he thought. He must live, he must. //The prophecy must be fulfilled. . . //
. . . TBC. . .
Okay, so there it was! Um, yes, so what'd you think? Awful? Good? Please, PLEASE, R&R!!!!! I need the feedback! It's rather sad, actually, how my pitiful life seems to revolve around reviews! =) Okay, so what do you want to have happen next?
The Lion is told
The Trio wonders about Malfoy/they come to visit
Voldemort rages at Lucius and the Death Eaters for loosing Lupin
We find out what Snape has to do with all of this
Okay, those are your options! Review!!!!!!!
