Chapter 44
Severus was drained in his own sweat while the fire within him burned on and on since days. Only because of Celeste's devoted care, he wasn't dead already.
After a week of dangerous fever seizures that weakened him even more, his life was hanging by a thread. Whatever it was that caused the fever, it started to paralyze him and only Celeste's constant presence kept the potion master alive.
Dumbledore and Sirius were brooding over tomes about healing potions and spells, while Celeste and Madam Pomfrey tried their best to clean the countless wounds on the potion masters body and steadied his breathing.
"This is not normal" Dumbledore muttered. "Normally all these wounds should have started to heal already after almost two weeks of treatment"
"I trust Malfoy to put some venom on that chair" Sirius growled.
Professor Dumbledore slammed the book shut with a loud bang.
Sirius stared in bewilderment at the old wizard, who jumped up from the chair and knocked it over. The black-haired wizard had never seen the former headmaster so excited.
He followed him into Snape's bedroom and watched when Dumbledore conjured a little vial.
The white-haired wizard shoved Poppy and Celeste out of his way and leaned over the sick potion master.
"When the spikes of this chair were poisoned then with our treatment we might have made his state worse and this is the reason he's not recovering" he said.
"But if this is the case, then all the ointments will have covered every trace of the poison" Poppy sighed and put her hand over her eyes.
"Yes that might be true Poppy, but inside the poison still must be there" Albus insisted.
"But if it is really poison, shouldn't he be dead already?" Celeste wondered, while Dumbledore settled next to Severus.
"This place here holds its own magic in its very walls, my dear. It is entirely devoted to the good side and supports everything good in its own way. And rescuing Severus is definitely a good thing"
Dumbledore flicked his wand and a very sharp knife, with a fine blade appeared in his hand. "This won't be pleasant, but I need you Poppy and Sirius to hold his shoulder down. Celeste, would you please work your magic and stabilize his condition until I'm done?"
Celeste rested one hand at Severus' heart and one at his head while Madam Pomfrey and Sirius placed themselves on either side of the potion masters' shoulders.
With a disgusted snort, Sirius shoved a wisp of sweaty, greasy hair aside and pushed the wizard in his bed.
"You have to hurry Professor" Celeste said "He can't stand that very long"
Dumbledore looked around and when they all signalized they were ready, he punctured one of the hole on Severus left thigh. A small stream of blood flew into the vial and Albus rushed out of the door and into his private lab.
While Madam Pomfrey and Celeste stopped the bleeding, Sirius followed Albus.
When he entered the lab, he stopped short and almost fell over his own feet by the sight of Albus new visitor.
"Kim" he gasped and fell into a nearby chair.
"Hi Sirius" she smiled and walked over to hug him. "Haven't seen you for ages"
"I heard you took over for Snivellus now"
"Don't call him that! You know I always hated when you bullied him" she called.
"Yes but you weren't the one who got hexed in your back by the slimy Slytherin. He's not half as innocent as you think he is." Sirius growled. He could imagine more pleasant topics to talk about with his old girlfriend than the greasy potion master.
She ignored his last commend and bent over the working table next to Dumbledore. Sirius grabbed a book and started to read. He knew that Celeste and Poppy would be undressing Snape again and that this wasn't something he wanted to see. The mere thought of the potion master without any robes squeezed his lunch to the top of his stomach.
"This is exactly what I expected" Dumbledore mumbled. "These spikes were covered with snake venom"
"What would be more appropriate for Slytherins" Sirius said absentmindedly.
"What kind of snake does the venom come from?" Kim asked anxiously.
"I'm almost sure it comes from the Egyptian cobra" Dumbledore replied. "This would explain the paralysis and his respiratory problems"
"Malfoy must have altered the venom, because normally it causes death in a very short period of time" Kim exclaimed.
"I'm sure he did and that this is the reason, why Snape didn't show all the signs of being exposed to snake venom. Most likely, he only wanted to inflict enough pain to get the information he wanted and he couldn't risk killing him with snake poison before he had the information." Sirius stated.
"The venom of the Egyptian cobra alters the mental status. When we don't give him an antidote soon, his brain will be seriously damaged and he won't be anything more than a babbling pumpkin" Kim said seriously.
"That wouldn't be a big difference, would it?" Sirius snorted and turned his eyes back to his book.
"Kimberly, do you think you can brew a healing potion that neutralizes the snake poison?" Dumbledore asked.
"Of course Albus. I will start immediately" Kimberly assured before she walked up to the fireplace and flooed back to Hogwarts.
After four days full of anxiety if the potion master would be strong enough to hold on, the potion was finally ready.
Severus state of health was terrible; his limbs were paralyzed and his breathing started to pause more often. The jerky wheezing was even more terrifying than the shallow panting.
The fever was gone and now his skin was cold and white as a corpse.
Madam Pomfrey was very concerned about this, because it meant that the potion masters' body had stopped fighting.
"He is too weak to handle such a strong potion" Poppy called.
"If we're not giving it to him, he will die also. So all we can do is hope" Sirius growled.
Kimberly sat next to Severus, while Albus and Sirius steadied the limp body.
"I made sure, the potion isn't liquid. So he is not going to choke on it."
She placed the potion cube on Sev's tongue and held his jaws together. While the potion dissolved and the body started to absorb it, everybody watched the potion masters reaction.
"It is too strong...it is too strong" Madam Pomfrey muttered and started pacing around the bed with clenched fists.
"Poppy sit down or go somewhere else" Sirius snapped. "You're making me nervous"
The witch stared daggers at him and snorted, but continued pacing.
"Damn Severus, you greasy slime ball. Make a decision now. Live or die, I don't care, but do something" Sirius yelled at the unconscious potion master.
This time he received a disgusted look from Kimberly, a totally shocked one from Poppy, who stopped pacing instantly, and Albus chuckled.
"How long does it take until the potion works?" Celeste asked.
"The problem is that I couldn't tell how exactly Malfoy altered the venom. This potion here will neutralize the effects of the poison and then we have to wait." Kim explained.
"You all should go and get something to eat and some rest" Poppy suggested. "It will be a long night for all of us"
"Yes I will take over the next shift" Celeste stated and left the room together with Albus and Sirius, leaving Poppy behind to watch over the potion master.
"ALBUS .... AAAAAALBUS" Poppy screamed after a little while
The former headmaster rushed back into the provisional infirmary and smiled broadly, when the potion master looked back at him with hooded eyes.
"What happened ", Sirius called when he stormed into the room. "Severus made a decision" Kimberly smiled when she walked around Sirius and sat next to Poppy on Severus' bed.
"Oh what a pity" Sirius made a noise somewhat between growling and laughing and immediately Severus face showed the familiar scowl.
"He seems to be a lot better" Albus said and everybody broke out in laughter of relief.
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The week after the ritual had been very uneventful. They all had been very surprised that they weren't punished more severely. There hadn't been any trace of the dementors in the whole castle, so everybody went back to their regular schedule. Professor Lupin was a lot stricter after the incident; in his point of few, these encounters with Voldemort's servants were just tests for the big final attack.The third week of November had started when they all received a note from the headmistress, informing them about the detentions they had to serve for being out after curfew.
The Gryffindors had to do the yearly tooth-brushing of the giant squid, Kalliope and Jozlyn had to scrub the whole infirmary without magic and the two Ravenclaws had to dig up the enormous beds around Hagrid's hut.
When Kayla arrived at the dungeons for their advanced potions class the next day, her arms were still hurt from forcing the squids' mouth open.
She hurried inside and sat down behind Zara, who had her head resting on her arms on the desk.
The Gryffindor tapped her friend's shoulder and whispered "How did it go? Are you hurting as much as I am?"
The Ravenclaw girl didn't say anything nor did she move her head. Kayla was taken aback by her friends' reaction and asked "What's wrong Zara"
Right then Professor Wells entered the classroom; her long blond hair tied together in a long ponytail, and greeted the class.
"This is today's assignment. Please start immediately; it's a very complex potion"
With a flick of her wand she revealed the instructions on the blackboard and the students started to work.
Zara still wasn't moving, her head buried in her arms, when the potion mistress walked over and said "I'm sorry Miss Rawle, but this includes you too. Even in your...current state, I can't excuse you"
Zara heaved a sigh and lifted her head slowly from her arms.
Kayla just goggled at her friend while the whole class broke into a fit of laughter, unfortunately not the first time for Zara.
"How the hell did that happen?" Kayla gasped, when the enormous mustache of the Ravenclaw girl came full into view. With all the bushy hair in her face she looked oddly like a blond walrus.
Luna stifled a giggle and explained "She tried to cheat during detention. McGonagall had clearly stated that they'd have to dig up the ground with the spade and not the wand. She tried to charm her spade to dig on its own, but as soon as she casted the spell, she had that wonderful, big, blond, bushy mustache. Professor McGonagall told her it would be gone after 24 hours and it was another reminder to follow the rules"
Fortunately for Zara, the mustache was gone before she went to breakfast the next morning, but the snide remarks of the Slytherins, especially Malfoy, were very annoying.
I wouldn't laugh too loud if I were you, Malfoy, she thought, gritting her teeth when she headed for her first class.
"We have to start the Muscail Potion his week" Hermione urged, while she was sitting in the library once again.
"I know" Kayla whispered back, hoping the strict librarian wouldn't interrupt.
"I think we should set up everything we have so far in Myrtle's bathroom tomorrow after class. We don't need the boys get too involved in this. The less Harry is dealing with it the better is going to work" the perfect stated.
"I make sure Kelsey gives me all the ingredients tonight so we can start tomorrow afternoon. I just pray that Zara comes up with that scale in time or everything is going to be ruined" Kayla sighed heavily.
"Everything will turn out just fine." Hermione smiled.
The girls left the library and headed down for dinner. When they reached the entrance hall, Hermione whispered curiously "Do you have the surprise ready for Malf-?"
"I will tell you everything tomorrow after class" Kayla stopped her anxiously, when she spotted the Slytherin perfect coming from the dungeons. Judging from the nasty sneer on his face, he had heard every single word.
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After the application of the antidote, Severus recovered quickly.His breathing became normal after two more days and soon the whole situation started to annoy him immensely. He still was partly paralyzed, so he was depending on the help of others. He didn't mind Celeste's company nor Albus' if it was absolutely necessary, but soon he started to refuse Sirius help totally.
"This useless dog is not going to touch me anymore" he growled.
"Believe me Snivellus, the last thing in this world that I want is to touch you" Sirius spat as he was trying to lift the potion master into a chair at the window.
"Unfortunately I'm the only one strong enough to lift you. The big head of yours is definitely not helping"
"Where's Albus? Why am I here and since when?"
Sirius sighed heavily "Obviously this potion messed a little too long with your brain. I told you several times that Albus is handling his business and I don't know what exactly he's doing"
"Why should he inform you anyway" Severus sneered. "You're obviously of no use or otherwise why are you locked up here in Albus home?"
"I was useful enough to rescue your damn hide so you better shut up or I will make sure your recover will end right now, you ungrateful slimeball" Sirius spat while he dumped the wizard in the chair with a thud.
"Be careful you moron"
"Sorry when I made a dent in your delicate frame" Sirius grinned and called for Winky to bring Severus some lunch.
"I should have left you in your cell. Unfortunately Lucius is too stupid to do things the right way. Must be a Slytherin trait"
Sirius turned around and left the room searching for some more pleasant company.
Kayla and Hermione met in Myrtle's bathroom together with Zara and Ginny.
"So I've added all the ingredients we need so far" Hermione sighed. "In exactly 48 hours we have to add two tablespoons of vampire blood and again next week. The moonbell root will be 13 days before the next full moon and the scale a week before Christmas."
"I go and check the corridor. Malfoy looked far too pleased for my taste today and I'm afraid he's up to something" Kayla said and left the stall.
She walked down the hallway, her right hand clutched around her wand.
When she passed a picture of a garden party, a hand clutched over her mouth and dragged her in a dark corner.
"You better be quiet now, pretty girl" she heard the arrogant drawl of Draco Malfoy.
Damn this is going to be ugly, she thought, while her other hand clenched around the little vial in her pocket.
"Where's your mudblood friend and the other little bitches you hang around all the time, the Ravenclaw walrus and the Weaselette?" he sneered as he removed his hand from your mouth
"That's none of your business, Malfoy. Now you better let me go or you'll never recover from what I'm going to give you" she spat.
"AWWWWWWWW I'm so afraid" he mocked. "Can you see how I shiver? You're going to tell me now about that little surprise or I will make sure that you won't see the next sunrise"
His voice sounded dangerously low now and one hand dug deep in her hip while his other closed around her throat as he held her in a painful embrace.
She knew he soon would cut the oxygen off totally and started getting dizzy when she made a decision.
With all the power she had, she jerked her arm that was holding the vial up and slammed it into Malfoy's mouth. It shattered when it connected with his front teeth and knocked them out.
His hands flew to his face immediately, but Kayla pressed the tiny glass bottle into his mouth until it was empty.
The Slytherin perfect spit out little drops of the acid green liquid and little pieces of glass, wiping his mouth fiercely.
"You stupid little..." he yelled but then his eyes became a blank expression and then started looking.........dreamily.