The Headmaster then turned to Pomfrey. "How is he?"
"It's nothing that a few weeks' rest won't heal. And Dr. Moorland will be on hand until Severus is more fully recovered."
The man who'd been helping her stabilize the Potions Master nodded. "He's going to be fine, Professor Dumbledore. Unfortunately, we non-magical folk don't have ways to make bruises disappear as quickly as you wizards do, but I'm sure you'll agree our drugs can be quite effective."
"Poppy and I are grateful for your help, doctor," Dumbledore said. "I'm certain that Severus will feel he's in good hands once he's had a chat with you. He'd begun looking into Muggle cures, as I told you."
"I am looking forward to answering any questions Professor Snape may have concerning our medicinal drugs, of course." The tall man gently gripped Severus's wrist and checked his pulse. "He's responding to the morphine very well."
"I'm glad you could come on such short notice, Dr. Moorland," Dumbledore said.
"It was clearly an emergency, professor. My dealings with the staff at St. Mungo's may be infrequent, but I am their Muggle liaison, and I've never failed to respond to a call. Not to mention the fact that this is a most unique case."
"I understand Arthur Weasley briefed you about the nature of Professor Snape's... activities?"
Dr. Moorland nodded again. "He told me that he'd acted on your specific request because of this." He turned Snape's arm over, exposing the Dark Mark, and indicated the yellowish bumps that outlined it. "The rash you noticed around the mark is indeed unusual."
"And you heard what Severus said, Albus," Pomfrey said. "I don't like this at all."
"We'll have to monitor it closely for changes," Moorland said. "In the meantime, I'll treat it with cortisone." He looked at Snape with a thoughful expression. "When he starts to improve, I'd like to give him a series of vitamin shots. The tests I've done on him show that he's anemic. We also need to do something about his rather high blood pressure."
"Is it any wonder, he never listens to me, the stubborn mule!" Pomfrey said. She jerked the potions cabinet door open and snatched a roll of bandages from it. "I can barely get him to eat, let alone rest and take minimal care of himself like a normal human being."
"Between you and Dr. Moorland, I suspect he'll have to learn now," Dumbledore said, a merry twinkle glinting in his eyes.
[_]
Snape had awoken in the Hospital Wing on countless occasions, and the smell had always filled him with a mix of apprehension and fury. This time, however, it instantly calmed the surge of anguish he'd felt upon regaining consciousness.
He wasn't Voldemort's prisoner. He was at Hogwarts. Safe.
"Severus?"
An even greater sense of relief washed over him at the sound of Pomfrey's worried voice.
"Poppy..." he murmured, too weak to open his eyes.
"Are you hurting anywhere, dear?"
He coughed and winced. "Everywhere, I think."
She clucked her tongue, and then her hand was on his forehead. "And you've got a fever. Let me get Dr. Moorland so he can have a look at you."
"Who?"
"St. Mungo's sent us a Muggle doctor. He's been giving you some drugs we wouldn't be able to get otherwise."
"Oh."
"You just lie still. I'll be right back."
A few moments later, he heard her returning to the Hospital Wing and opened his good eye to see who this doctor was.
"Good morning, Professor Snape," the dark-haired, middle-aged man said. "How are you feeling?"
"Like a... hippogriff... ran me over."
"I'll assume that can't be terribly good," Moorland said. He slipped on his stethoscope and listened to Snape's heartbeat. "Don't worry, though. You'll be better before you know it." He then carefully began to prod the Potions Master's abdomen; despite his gentle touch, Snape gasped.
"I'm sorry, professor. You've sustained quite a bit of damage, I'm afraid."
"Not for the first time, either," Pomfrey said. "Heaven knows how many injuries he's patched up himself over the years."
"I've... gotten by-" Snape said, breath catching in his throat when Moorland's fingers came across yet another bruised area. Sweat had begun to glisten on Snape's pained features.
"I'd keep quiet, if I were you," Pomfrey said. She dabbed his face with a cool cloth and he relaxed.
The doctor opened his bag and retrieved a number of small bottles. "I'm going to give you a few pills, professor, for the pain, and to bring your temperature down. You need to sleep, and allow your body to mend itself."
"Maybe he should eat something first," Pomfrey said.
"He won't fall asleep right away. Perhaps a bowl of fruit," Moorland said.
"Good idea. I'll have a House Elf fetch one from the kitchens."
Moments later, Pomfrey returned with a small serving of diced pears. The doctor had prepared Snape's next dose and placed it on the bedside table in a plastic cup.
"You will have to... explain to me what all those... pills are," Snape said. "Most curious..."
"It'll be my pleasure."
Pomfrey sat next to the bed. "All right, Severus, you need some nourishment."
"Again, you feed me," Snape said. He would have smirked, but he was already beginning to feel drowsy.
"Someone has to, apparently," she said, spooning the fruit into his unresisting mouth. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the doctor remove bandages and inspect Snape's forearm.
"Itches..." Snape mumbled between mouthfuls.
The odd yellow rash had started to appear on the mark itself, while the pustules that ringed it were more numerous, lighter in shade, and seemingly filled with liquid.
Shortly after he'd consumed the last of the fruit, Snape's drooping eyelids finally drifted shut.
"What do you think?" Pomfrey asked Moorland.
"It's a bit worrisome. I wouldn't be so concerned if I knew that it had nothing to do with this mark. However..." He shook his head.
"Let me," she said, and took out her wand. She waved it over the mark and frowned. "I can't get a clear reading. Something's blocking me."
"I fear there's not much we can do other than wait. When it becomes obvious exactly what this rash is becoming, I'll be in a better position to decide on an adequate treatment. Right now, I can only guess. Whatever it is, it appears to be progressing fast, and the cortisone is having little effect," Moorland said.
"The Headmaster needs to see this-"
No sooner had Pomfrey uttered the words that Dumbledore entered the Hospital Wing.
"I thought I'd check on Severus," the old wizard said, approaching the bed. "Did the poor lad wake at all?"
"Albus, take a look at his arm," Pomfrey said.
Dumbledore adjusted his glasses and peered at the rash that marred the Potions Master's limb. "Mmh." He swept his palm over it. "Dark magic is definitely at work here." He repeated the gesture he'd just made and stroked his beard. "It's somehow entwined with Severus's allergy to porcupine needles, and triggering an adverse reaction."
"Dr. Moorland already tried one remedy, and it didn't work," Pomfrey said, unable to repress her agitation. "What if..."
"The process is in its initial stages, Madam Pomfrey," the doctor said. "I'm certain we'll be equipped to deal with the outcome, once it manifests itself. As you recall, the morphine stopped his pain, and the medication I just gave him worked as well."
"We'll get him through this, Poppy," Dumbledore said.
She smoothed Snape's blankets, then brushed a stray lock of hair from his eyes. "He's been through so much already." She glanced at Moorland and said, "He'll be sleeping for a while?"
"Until late this afternoon, no doubt."
"That can only do him good," Dumbledore said. "I don't need to tell you, Dr. Moorland, that Severus has long neglected himself in the name of our cause. I've often debated whether I should let him go on like this." He sighed. "At any rate, his spying days are over."
"As I told Madam Pomfrey, I have several healing therapies planned for your Potions Master. Much of the damage can be repaired, and even reversed."
Dumbledore bent down and patted Snape's cheek. "Heaven knows the lad deserves it."
[_]
Pomfrey put her quill down and rose from her seat.
"Severus?"
The Potions Master, who'd been in a peaceful slumber all afternoon, had suddenly groaned, and a sharp quiver rocked his body.
She hurried towards the bed, pointing her wand at her throat as she did so. "Dr. Moorland, come to the Hospital Wing right away!"
Snape was shivering from head to toe. Drops of perspiration began to streak his face and he cried out; she ran her wand over him again and again, beads of sweat now dotting her own brow.
"What's happening to him, Merlin, this doesn't make any sense-"