Chapter 87
Snape was brooding over a tome in his private study.
Hermione had been placed on a bed he had conjured right next to him so he could keep an eye on her at all times.
A binding spell kept her in place and he had administered a calming draught to reduce the risk of her harming herself.
The girl wasn't moving anymore and the way her chest was moving only slightly, it remembered him of a muggle fairy tale he once read – Snow White
The term 'white' however was totally out of place for Miss Granger. Her skin was yellow with red spots, caused from the fever that was raging within her.
He had to restore her liver somehow or the girl was bound to die.
Just when he waved his wand over her abdomen to determine the damage of the organ, he heard the plop that announced the arrival of a house-elf.
"What?" he growled and shot a dangerous look at the uninvited visitor.
"Dobby has a note for Master Severus Snape" the house-elf chirped and handed Snape the piece of parchment.
The potion master did not thank him nor did he see the creature depart. House-elves were here to serve.
Angry about the interruption, he unfolded the note and read it quickly.
His fist slammed down on his desk, causing several vials to rattle in their stands on the table.
"Damn you Malfoy" he roared and for the first time in many years he allowed his anger to get to the surface.
This had been definitely too much. At this moment, Snape didn't care that the boy lost his father, nor that poisoning Granger was his intention, but right now, he truly doubted that Draco would ever come to his senses.
He felt like destroying something or ripping someone's head off and for the first time in 5 years he didn't want it to be Harry Potter's.
Then he heard a knock on his door but before he could put another ward on, the person entered.
"How is she?" he heard a female voice calling and he turned around.
"She's going to die if I can't find a way to restore her liver today. And to be honest, I don't know if what I have in mind will work. The diagnosis spells, I casted on her are very vague about the actual damage."
The young witch walked over to the bed and sat next to the girl.
"Severus, may I try something?"
"Well, sure... You can't probably do anymore damage."
The potion master joined the witch at the bedside and she took his hand in hers.
"I might have a way to help her, but I don't know if my magic alone will be strong enough"
Snape looked at her and brushed a stray curl of her blonde hair out of her face.
"Celeste, just tell me what you need and I will do everything in my power to make sure you get it"
"Get Dumbledore for me"
Snape nodded curtly and rushed over to the fireplace while Celeste concentrated at the task at hand. She opened the girl's nightgown and placed her hands on Hermione's chest and abdomen. Humming lowly, she concentrated and sent her mind out to explore the patient.
Snape watched her from the fireplace while he was waiting for Dumbledore to arrive. Silent tear were running down her cheeks and her face was contorted, disfiguring her pretty features. He was wondering if Celeste was feeling the pain and if this was the case, he wouldn't want to imagine what the Gryffindor was going through.
Just then, he heard another knock at the door and hoped he wouldn't have to handle anymore of the Gryffindor pack..
"Severus let me in. I have Miss Granger's parents with me" he heard his fellow potion professor call out.
Quickly he conjured curtains around Hermione's bed and opened the door.
Kimberly crossed the threshold and led the Grangers in.
Hermione's mother dashed over towards the curtains without giving Severus a second glance. The man however stretched out his hand for the Professor to take and Snape could see the fury raging inside the man just below the surface.
Without a word, Severus took his hand for a quick and firm handshake before he beckoned Mr Granger over to Hermione's bed.
Mrs Granger was holding Hermione's hands while she sobbed quietly.
Celeste was still concentrating on the damage caused by the poison that was still partly raging inside the girl's body.
Nobody said anything until Celeste broke the awkward silence.
"Where's Dumbledore? We need to hurry up. There's not much time left" she urged.
"I'm here, my dear. How can I help you?"
The white-haired wizard stepped out of the fireplace and walked up to the bed.
Celeste looked up from Hermione's ill form and looked firmly at Albus.
"My strength alone will not suffice to heal the girl"
Then her gaze dropped on Hermione's mother, who was now sobbing heart-rending, the hands of her daughter clutched to her chest.
"But if you all trust me, maybe we can combine our powers and channel them through me" she continued and looked at Albus, Kimberly and Severus in turn.
"Would you care to explain what you have in mind?" the potion master said and Albus recognized that his former student looked more concerned than he had ever seen him before.
Celeste took Mrs Grangers hand and led her a few steps away from the bed to get her full attention. Hermione's father followed suit and put a protective arm around his wife.
"I cannot heal your daughter's liver. It's too damaged and her body would never recover. Professor Snape will have to put a stasis spell on her, so we can take out her liver completely without her dying right away."
"But how can she live without a liver?" Mr Granger inquired, his voice slightly shaking.
"I have healing powers and if I can combine my powers with the strength of my colleagues, I think I can re-grow it."
"I'm sorry, but this sounds ridiculous. I have never heard that someone can grow an organ just like that"
The man sounded positively angry now, obviously thinking that this woman was out of her mind.
"I assure you that it has been done before, although I can't recall that it has ever been such an important organ as the liver" Professor Dumbledore exclaimed and looked at the Grangers.
"Do everything in your power to save my child" Mrs Granger said in a low voice. "No matter how ridiculous it may seem. I'm willing to try anything."
"Well then, I suggest that you two wait outside because we will need to focus in here" Kimberly said, but before she could lead the two muggles outside, Mr Granger grabbed Professor Dumbledore's arm.
"I trust that you find the culprit and punish him severely. Because if you do not, I will hunt him down myself and make sure he will never harm anyone again" the man growled and the old wizard could see that the man was deadly serious.
"I assure you that he will not get away with this"
With a curt nod towards the old wizard, Mr Granger followed his wife outside.
The near loss of their only child had struck his wife harder than she admitted. The normally energetic woman was now a mere shadow of her former self. He knew that if those wizards were not able to safe Hermione, the loss would destroy his wife totally.
Inside Snape's study, Dumbledore addressed his great-granddaughter.
"My dear, would you please fetch Minerva for me? I think we will need another wand here."
"Minerva is busy with Mr Dursley, who seems to have his hands in this dilemma"
Dumbledore rubbed his chin.
"Kimberly, would you please stay with the Grangers until I have obtained suitable company for them?"
The witch nodded and left, while Albus called into the fireplace.
"Sirius!"
Severus immediately crossed his arms over his chest in a defensive manner and growled "Oh please Albus! Not that mongrel"
The white-haired wizard however paid him no mind and called out for the animagus once more.
Dumbledore instructed him to come immediately and to bring Lady Tanya and Lily Potter with him.
"Severus, you have to cast the stasis spell now, she's having a liver failure" Celeste called out and the potion master rushed to her side.
He waved his wad quickly and Hermione's body was engulfed in a blue glowing bubble.
"She can't remain like this for too long or it will cause a brain damage"
"How much time do I have?" Celeste inquired with an earnest look at Severus.
"We can't risk more than 30 minutes"
"That should suffice"
At this moment, the flames turned green and Sirius stepped out of the fireplace, followed by Lily and Lady Tanya.
"I trust you have heard what happened to Miss Granger. Celeste thinks she can save her but she needs our help with it."
Albus then turned towards Lady Tanya.
"Would you mind to stay with Mr and Mrs Granger? They cannot be left alone at this time"
The witch nodded curtly and swept out of the room.
As soon as Kimberly returned, Albus directed the witches and wizards to their positions around Hermione's bed.
Severus was standing on the right side of the bed, Lily at 5 o'clock, Sirius at 7 o'clock and Kimberly was facing Severus. He ordered them to point their wands at Celeste, who was sitting on the girl's bedside, and took his own place on behind Hermione's head.
"Celeste will need our magical powers to help her healing Miss Granger, so you have to concentrate at Celeste and the task at hand. When we are successful, our student will have a new liver" Albus said firmly and pointed his wand over his head.
Sirius heard the old wizard mumbling an incantation and immediately felt a spinning sensation in his head and wasn't able to move. Trying hard not to panic, he relaxed and the strange feeling subsided and was replaced by a pulling sensation. It seemed to him like his magic was trying to get to a destination outside of his own body.
At first he hesitated a little, afraid of losing his magic completely but then his eyes locked with Albus and he calmed down. Sirius concentrated on what his magic was supposed to do and where to go.
Then the pulling sensation was replaced by a tingling in the fingers of his wand hand, when his powers started flowing into Celeste.
He glanced from Lily, to Snape then to Kimberly in turn and recognized a silvery glow around them all. Celeste felt her strength increasing and directed her concentration into the depths of Hermione's body. She located the damaged organ immediately and started to work her magic.
The young witch could only hope that Hermione was still strong enough to handle the intrusion of her body and that the stasis spell would hold. Quickly, she dissolved the damaged organ but Hermione's body suddenly revolted. It wouldn't absorb the liquid her liver had become. Celeste knew she had to solve the problem quickly or the poison inside her would reach the brain and kill her within minutes.
Then no power in this world would be able to save her.
A thought struck her and it would be worth a try.
She concentrated her powers on the liquid and turned it into a crystal, which she placed into Hermione's stomach. If everything would work out as expected, Hermione would excrete the crystal the regular way in a few days and until then it wouldn't harm her. Now she had to work quickly, because she was sure that Hermione wouldn't hold on very much longer.
Hoping that the strength of the others would be enough, she formed a picture of a new and healthy liver in her mind and projected it into Hermione's body.
She felt a great wave of relief washing over her when she felt the girl's body respond to her magic and swathe liver building in front of her inner eye. Just when she felt the shimmering walls of the stasis spell collapse, her work was done and she withdrew from the girl. After she broke the connection, she watched the others drop to the floor one by one; exhausted and drained.
Albus was the only one standing and then he and Celeste checked on the others.
Fortunately nobody was unconscious and soon they were all settled on the sofa and armchairs in Severus' sitting room.
"Did it work?" Lily said weakly and his eyes showed her concern for her son's friend.
"We will see if her body accepts the new organ without problems, but I daresay that her chances have increased "
While the others fought for Hermione's life in the dungeons, Minerva McGonagall was glaring daggers at Dudley Dursley, trying hard not to loose her cool in front of the student.
"Professor Lupin, would you please see me in my office! NOW" she all but screamed when she ordered the Head of Gryffindor to see her.
She didn't trust herself that she wouldn't put her hands on the boy.
The Sorting Hat must loose his touch; why else would Dudley be put into Gryffindor, she thought and showered the boy with furious looks.
As soon as Hermione was safely returned to the hospital wing for further observation, Snape left his quarters and entered the Slytherin common room.
He remained in the shadows and watched for a little while to see if Draco was bragging with his deed.
The Slytherin prefect was fidgeting with his wand while he was trying to concentrate on his Charms homework.
Snape moved further back when the common room door opened and Pansy swept into the room.
"Hey Parkinson! Anything new about the mudblood?"
The girl fell down on the green leather couch next to Draco and giggled.
"You're not going to believe it. We're going to be rid of her for good, as it seems"
Draco's ears perked up and he nonchalantly beckoned Pansy to continue.
"The new ingredients you added to that love potion to increase the strength, has poisoned her. Peeves has overheard McGonagall talking to Flitwick about it and has spread the news all over the school.
A malicious smirk crept on Malfoy's face and he leaned closer to his fellow Slytherin.
"That worked better than I hoped, although it wasn't planned that way. I never actually wanted her to fall in love with Dursley but with someone else. No one can stand the mudblood anyway, so I hoped she would commit suicide when her love is not returned. However, this is so much better."
Just then, Snape stepped out of the shadows and growled "I think I have heard enough Mr Malfoy. Would you please accompany me to my office?"
Draco knew very well that this was an order and not a request. Slowly he rose from the couch and followed Snape out of the common room and along the dimly lit corridors to the potions classroom. Every Slytherin knew that a polite sounding Snape was a whole lot more dangerous than an angry Snape.
Snape swept into his office and pointed at a chair in front of his desk.
"Sit!" he hissed and Draco sat down, his hands folded in his lap.
"I trust that you know what you're here for?"
Quickly, Draco pondered if he could try to play innocent but he had no idea how much Snape had overheard, so he wanted to find that out first.
"I'm not exactly sure, sir"
"Well, then let me enlighten you. As you very well know, Miss Granger has been poisoned by an incorrectly brewed love potion."
Draco nodded mutely and tried to look as innocent and angelic as possible. Snape groaned inwardly and wondered who the boy thought he could fool. He had years of experience with Slytherins and new exactly how to outsmart them.
"Mr Dursley had the idiotic idea to inflame the love for him in Miss Granger with a love potion. He has admitted that much and also told us that he had help"
The scrutinizing glare of his professor made Draco swallow hard.
"What has that to do with me, sir?" Draco tried one last time to see if Snape actually knew that he was involved or if he was just guessing.
Severus how ever suppressed a pitiful smile. He knew exactly what the boy was playing at. It should have been obvious to all of his Slytherins that Severus Snape never guessed.
"Mr Dursley has told us that you, Mr Malfoy, have provided him with said love potion. Not to mention that I just heard you mentioning the same to Miss Parkinson. Do you have anything to say for your defence?"
Draco knew that his game was up and it was time for Plan B.
"I only wanted to do him a favour, that's all" he said meekly and looked at Snape through hooded eyes.
That was quite enough for the potion master and he changed his tactics.
"I heard exactly what you told Parkinson, so don't try that with me. Your motives were far from noble and you most definitely went too far."
Draco paled noticeable and tried his last trump.
"I know that my father would appreciate what I did"
Snape knitted his eyebrows before he growled "I really don't care what your father would appreciate. We're not in the Dark Lord's lair but in a school and we DO NOT poison our fellow students"
The potion master felt like he was talking to a four year old who did not understand why you shouldn't torture your pet.
"Now to your punishment." Snape's onyx eyes glittered with suppressed anger about the cheeky behaviour of his student.
"To teach you some loyalty you will sit with the Hufflepuffs during every meal, you will sit with them in every class you have together and maybe they'll rub off on you. Furthermore every contact with your Slytherin friends is forbidden. I will know when you disobey my orders and you'll regret it."
Draco had a hard time not to gag at the aspect of spending so much time with the Hufflepuffs, but he knew that Snape was deadly serious.
"You can call yourself lucky that you're not going to be expelled, but I could convince the headmistress that you're not better off at home"
The Slytherin prefect however didn't want to go home. He was happy at Hogwarts and he knew that his father would only take out his bad mood on him, so he silently thanked Snape.
"Another part of your punishment will be an apology"
Severus sneered at the aghast expressing of Draco and continued.
"As soon as I'm done with you, you will apologize to Mr and Mrs Granger and as soon as Miss Granger is felling better, you are apologizing to her as well. In front of the whole school"
Now Draco's face turned from pale to crimson. He jumped off the chair and shouted "I'm not going to apologize to some filthy muggles"
"Either that or I will report you to the ministry. Then you will have to stand trial and your wand will be broken in half. Is that what you want?" Snape stated and arched his eyebrow.
Draco was raging with fury. He would have to do Snape's bidding for now, but he would owl his father right away and Snape would pay for that.
He didn't know exactly how his father could influence Snape, but he knew he would,.
Severus knew that Draco wouldn't object any further and left the desk.
"You may return to your common room until dinner. You're suspended from the rest of your classes for today." Snape said sharply and pointed at the door.
It took Draco all the strength he could muster not to fling himself on his head of house. His father would hear of that immediately and then Snape would pay.