Severus Snape sprinted to the third-floor girl's bathroom. It hadn't taken him long to realize that it was Myrtle who was screaming. As much as he hoped that she was being melodramatic again; the cold dread in his stomach told him otherwise.
He rounded the last corner and pushed passed a crowd of frightened students. Just before he ducked into the bathroom, he caught a glimpse of Hermione racing towards them from the opposite direction, face white with fear.
Severus drew his wand, ready to attack. He encountered Potter first. The boy seemed dazed, staring at nothing, wand held limply at his side. "Mr. Potter?" he called.
Harry's eyes snapped to his. "I didn't mean it," he said. "I didn't know what it did. It just said for enemies." The phrase ticked something in Snape's brain, and he looked to the floor. Red tinged water flooded the bathroom. Severus shoved Potter aside. He was caught short by the sight of his godson prone on the floor, his life's blood seeping into the water surrounding him.
"Draco," he gasped as he fell to his knees. Snape recognized his own spell & began to work furiously to save the boy. He managed to stop the majority of the bleeding, stabilizing Draco's condition, if only momentarily. He knew the boy would still need extensive care.
Snape rose to his feet. He needed to deal with that little shit, Potter. He had almost killed another student, his own godson.
He found the boy still standing in the corridor surrounded by whispering students. Hermione stood next to him frantically peppering the brat with questions to which he barely responded. As he made his way over to the pair, he saw the girl raise her hand and strike Potter squarely in the face. Snape moved between them, violently pulling the boy away from Hermione.
"Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy is stable for the moment, but still needs urgent medical attention. Please fetch Madam Pomphrey," he asked. The witch let out a sigh of relief at hearing that her friend still lived, and quickly retreated.
"Professor, I'm sorry, I.." Harry started.
Severus gave him another shake. "No….no, Potter! No more excuses. Go straight to the headmaster's office and wait. I have to remain here to ensure your assault doesn't turn into murder charges," he raged, and shoved the boy off towards the office. Thankfully Potter left quickly and without speaking.
Tonks and Shacklebolt raced up to him, "Severus, there has been an attack?" Kingsley asked and Snape nodded in confirmation. "Who?"
"Mr. Malfoy," the potions master said as he ducked back into the bathroom to care for the student. Both aurors were close behind.
"My cousin attacked someone?" Tonks asked.
"No, he was the one attacked," he replied, leading them to Draco's side. Where he knelled once more.
"What can we do?" Kingsley asked as soon as he saw the injured student.
"Perhaps one of you can go make sure Potter makes it to Albus's office and doesn't try to run," he responded.
"Harry did this?" the other wizard gasped.
Severus scowled at the auror, but gave no answer, focusing instead on his patient. "Right, I will find Harry and make sure he doesn't get lost."
"I want to stay here," Tonks said. The other wizard nodded and left. She knelled down next to her cousin and asked, "What can I do?"
"Stop that blasted water before he drowns," Snape barked.
Tonks looked around the room, seeing multiple broken fixtures. One couldn't go through life as clumsy as her without learning quick repair charms. She made short work of staunching the water's flow. "Now what?" she asked.
"Come, hold his head out of the water," he commanded and let her take his place.
"He's so cold!" she gasped.
"He's lost a lot of blood, and this water isn't helping, " the wizard replied as he checked Draco's vitals. Where the hell was Pomphrey, he thought.
"Can't we just move him or give him a blood replenisher? Surely you have that on hand." Tonks said.
Severus shot her a sharp look. "Of course, I have it, but we can't administer it until we know if he has internal bleeding. We can't move him for the same reason," he explained.
They remained silent for a moment. "His hair is so soft," the witch commented.
Snape looked over to see the auror had moved the boy's hair from his face. "I don't think I've tussled his hair since he was a toddler. Fussy little thing, even then. A peacock like his father," he smiled.
"You've known him for a long time," she stated.
"Since the moment he was born. I'm his godfather," he said.
Tonks opened her mouth to ask another question when Draco started shaking violently. "What's happening?" she cried.
"Fuck, he's hypothermic. Where the fuck is Pomfrey?" he yelled.
"I saw her earlier in greenhouse three with Sprout."
"Bloody hell, I sent Granger to the infirmary," he thought for a moment. "Can you cast a patronus?" he questioned. Tonks nodded, pulling out her wand. She cast the spell and a large wolf leapt from her wand and ran from the room.
"I need your help, but we need to keep his head out of the water," Snape said.
Tonks started to take off her jacket. "Your cloak," she demanded, and the wizard promptly shed it. She folded both together and gently lay the boy's head on it.
The potions master grabbed Draco's right arm and started to rub it vigorously. "We need to keep his limbs warm and his blood circulating. Hypothermia is drawing his body heat to his core to protect his vital organs," he explained.
Tonks nodded, grabbing his left arm and rubbing. They worked silently until the witch gasped and dropped the boy's arm. Snape looked over to see Draco's shirt sleeve had ridden up and exposed his dark mark.
Fucking shit! He thought. Can't anything go right? "Miss Tonks," he said gently. "I know this is a shock, but I assure you that Dumbledore is fully aware of the situation. Right now, I need you to keep doing what you're doing." Seeing no response from the woman, he added, "Please."
That seemed to grab her attention. She shook her head to drive off the sudden shock and grabbed the young man's arm once more. Severus let out a sigh of relief.
"Explain," she ordered. "You-Know-Who doesn't induct children."
The potions master's next sigh was weary. "This was Lucius's punishment for the Department of Mysteries," he said as he lay the boy's arm on his chest then moved down to his feet. He removed Draco's shoes and socks and began rubbing his feet and calves.
Tonks followed his lead and worked on the boy's other foot. "How is this a punishment? Surely he wanted his son to be inducted," she questioned.
"Perhaps," he answered, "but not like this. Not in his absence, not before Draco reached his majority, not against his mother's wishes, and he certainly didn't want Draco to be marked just to send him on a suicide mission. His parents have been waiting all school year for word that their son is dead, and they are powerless to stop it."
"Fuck. Do you know what his mission is? Is there any way to save him?" Tonks asked.
"Yes, I know the mission but am not at liberty to say. Although you could ask Albus himself, but I doubt he'd divulge it," he said. They both could hear a commotion outside the bathroom, signaling that help had finally arrived. Severus drew Draco's sleeve back down, covering the mark from prying eyes. "Please say nothing about what you saw. At least until you speak with Dumbledore," he added. "I'm not exaggerating when I say that many lives hang in the balance."
Tonks looked conflicted. "Please, Miss Tonks. Just until you speak with Albus. Please, he's family…..to both of us," Snape pleaded. Just as Pomfrey entered the room, Tonks gave him a quick nod of acceptance. Snape sighed once more, at least one disaster had been postponed.
*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*
It was well past midnight before Snape left his godson's side. They had managed to save the boy, but he'd have a long recovery. He wondered whether their work was futile. With Draco incapacitated, the completion of his mission seemed impossible. Fucking Potter may well still be the death of the young man.
He exited the infirmary, ready to collapse into bed. He hadn't gone far when he heard a faint sniffle coming from behind a tapestry. Not in the mood for errant students, he wrenched the tapestry back, ready to lay in to whomever was hiding behind it. He was taken aback though, when he saw the petite witch with wild hair sitting in the alcove behind it. She had her arms wrapped around her folded legs and her head rested on her knees.
"Miss Granger?" he said quietly.
She looked up to him, her face wet with tears, eyes red and puffy. "Will he live?" she asked with a shaky voice.
"Yes," he replied. The witch started to sob again. Against his better judgement, Snape entered the alcove and sat next to the girl in the dark.
"I didn't know who to ask," she said. "We aren't supposed to be friends."
"He will heal from his injuries. Thankfully, I knew the counter curse and was able to get to him in time. He's unconscious but should make a full recovery." he explained.
"So, you're the Half Blood Prince," she commented. Severus frowned at the use of his old moniker for a moment before everything became clear. His old potions text book. Potter must have gotten a hold of it. That fool Slughorn had to have lent it out.
"Yes," he answered. "Does he still have the book?"
"No, it's gone," she answered. "I don't know why I never considered that you could be a half blood. It makes sense, I guess I just assumed you were pure blooded because you're the head of Slytherin."
"My father was a muggle," he explained.
"Am I doing the right thing?" she asked. "I'm not stupid. I know more is going on with Draco then what he's telling me. Please tell me I'm doing the right thing," she begged.
Snape stayed silent for a long time, considering his response. "Yes, you are. It won't make sense, but know that you are working to save lives."
"I trust you," she said quietly.
"You shouldn't," he replied.
"It's much too late for that," the witch said.
"I suppose it is," Severus responded, hating himself for getting her so involved in this mess.
"Would you think less of me, if I told you I was scared?" she asked timidly. "I'm afraid of what will happen with my parents, with Harry and the Weasley's and even the Malfoys. I'm working so hard, trying to be ready for what's to come, but I'm so scared it won't be enough. Scared that I'll let everyone down."
This day seemed full of sighs as he let out one more. On impulse he lifted his arm and draped it around the witch, and she instantly leaned into him. He had so little to offer her. He could give her some comfort, though. "No, Hermione, I would not think less of you. It's normal to be scared. Honestly I'd be more concerned if you weren't scared," he said. "You have worked so hard this past year, and I am so proud of what you've accomplished. You could never let me down. Ever. And any true friend would say the same."
Hermione let out a laughing sob. "So, we're friends now?" she asked.
"I suppose we are. Just don't tell anyone, I do have a reputation to maintain," he joked.
After a long silence, the witch spoke again. "This will set Draco back, won't it?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so," the wizard replied.
"When he wakes, tell him that I'm still working on it," she said.
Severus closed his eyes, incredibly grateful to the girl. She may be Draco's only hope at survival. "Thank you," he whispered.
They sat together in silence for some time. Drawing strength from one another. Snape was surprise by how loath he was to end the encounter, but it was very late. They would both need rest to face the mess that tomorrow would likely bring. He escorted Hermione back to her common room before making his way back to his own quarters where his own bed awaited.