He made a face as he swallowed. "And I thought potions tasted like crap."
"Nice to finally hear you admit to that after all these years," Pomfrey said. She fluffed his pillows and rearranged his blankets. "Do try to get some shut eye, Severus. This medicine is supposed to make you drowsy."
He gave her a look of deep skepticism. Then he sighed and nodded.
"If he needs anything, Headmaster, come and wake me," Pomfrey said.
"I'm sure we'll manage for a couple of hours, Poppy."
She glanced at Snape one more time, as if to make certain she'd done everything she possibly could, and left the room.
"All right, Severus, I'll just sit right here and keep you company while you sleep," Dumbledore said, pulling the chair closer to the bed. "Perhaps I can entertain you with a few tales of what's been going on in your class since you fell ill, and it will help you doze off."
Snape's face was torn between scorn and alarm.
"The students -well, the Gryffindors and the Slytherins, to be more precise- have been making life a living hell for your temporary replacement. They're disgusted with said wizard's abilities and have been hard at work exposing his mediocre potions skills by outdoing him at every opportunity. They've also been praising you... How did Gilderoy put it? 'At interminable length.'"
Snape was speechless.
"Oh, and wouldn't you know it, Harry, Ron, and Hermione teamed up with Draco and a few other Slytherins, and Fred and George Weasley of course, and 'accidentally' turned poor Gilderoy into a peacock. According to the rumors, that is."
A smile wavered on Snape's lips.
"I thought that would cheer you," Dumbledore said. "We've been missing you at the Head Table, dear boy."
Snape rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, Albus."
"It's not the same without you-"
Suddenly, Snape gasped. He clutched his arm and turned white. "Oh, no..."
"Severus?"
"The Dark Lord is summoning me... You have to help, I... I must get dressed..."
"You are in no condition-"
Snape sniffed and struggled to get up. "You know as well as I do that I can't ignore the summons. I'll... I've answered the call in much worse conditions."
"Severus, are you sure?"
"Yes, yes -quickly, before Poppy-"
Both men jumped at the sound of the mediwitch clearing her throat. She was standing in the doorway, arms folded over her chest, mouth set in a grim line. "Did I hear you say what I think I heard you say?"
"Poppy, Severus has been summoned."
"I wouldn't care if He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named sent him a bloody love letter," Pomfrey said. "He's not going, do you understand?"
"You have to be reasonable, Severus knows what he's-"
She stormed over to Dumbledore and said, "If you tell me to be reasonable one more time, I'm really going to let you have it, you old goat. I'll only say this once more. He's not going. Not this time. We're not talking of a simple cold! He's very ill and weakened by his allergic reaction."
Snape growled and held his arm tighter. "This is none of your business-"
"Oh, it is every bit my business, Mister Master Spy! Or have you forgotten how many times you've been dragged in here, barely alive? But, oh, don't let me stop you, for heaven's sake. Go ahead, Severus. Let's see you get up, go on, then."
Snape gathered all the strength he had left and hauled himself out of bed.
And crumpled to the floor. He glared at Pomfrey.
"I'm sure the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters will be sympathetic to your health problems," she said. "They may Crucio you just once or twice instead of the usual dozen times."
"Meddlesome witch-" Snape's biting retort was cut short when his Dark Mark flared to life again, the pain even more intense than the first time.
"Albus, help me get him back in bed," Pomfrey said.
"Have to... can't... c- can't.." Snape said, his breath coming in short puffs.
"Stay calm," Pomfrey said. She snatched the bag Hermione had brought and frantically searched its contents for something, anything, that might help her charge.
Snape screamed.
"Poppy, Voldemort won't give Severus a moment's peace until he answers," Dumbledore said. As he had done many times in the past, he murmured a number of spells, attempting to shield Snape from the Dark Lord's call. "I think Voldemort is more upset than usual." He continued to whisper and power radiated from him in waves.
"Hold his arm," Pomfrey said. She tore a box open.
Dumbledore looked at the tube in her hand. "What is that?"
"It's supposed to feel ice cold, has 'aspirin,' Hermione told me it was some kind of miracle drug," Pomfrey said. It's crazy but it's got to work...
Snape's entire body was trembling. "P- Poppy..."
"Take some deep breaths, Severus. We're going to try something."
Dumbledore whispered again, this time to protect Pomfrey who was about to touch her charge's burning Mark.
She rubbed the clear blue gel on his arm, glancing at his face every few seconds to see if he was reacting favorably. Then, at last, to her intense relief, his muscles began to relax and he stared at her in astonishment.
"It's... it doesn't... burn so much," he said.
"Remarkable," Dumbledore said. "Non-magical remedies impede the Mark... I never would have imagined such a thing. And, you seem less stuffed up, Severus. That Muggle potion you took a little while ago apparently works as well."
"This ointment needs to be reapplied every four hours," Pomfrey said, reading the directions on the tube.
"I really do think you should go back to bed," Dumbledore said. "I believe we have the situation under control now."
"Yes, no thanks to you. I can't believe you were actually going to help him answer the summons."
"I confess I couldn't think of a better solution. But you must admit that Severus is more inclined to listen to you."
"Ha," came Snape's sleepy voice. He yawned.
"Quiet, you. I'd give you a piece of my mind if it wasn't against my principles to upbraid a bedridden patient," Pomfrey said.
Dumbledore arched his eyebrow, but wisely refrained from comment.
"Ha," Snape said again, the word almost inaudible. His head felt like it was floating away.
"I'll be back soon to check on you, so don't even think of doing anything foolish," Pomfrey said, softening.
But he'd already fallen asleep.