Chapter 22
Full Moon
It had been three days since Laurel woke up in the Hogwarts infirmary. Her wounds had healed completely, and even, to everyone's surprise, they had not left any visible scars.
"As if by magic!" — Madam Pomfrey had exclaimed as she removed the bandages.
Yet despite this good news, the Akardos' spirit seemed to sink lower and lower as the date of the next full moon drew nearer. She couldn't help reliving the werewolf attack over and over again. She had convinced herself that that terrible night had sealed her fate. Like the dark mark in Severus' arm, Laurel felt that Fenrir Greyback had marked her too, with his teeth, with his claws. She felt that her body did not belong to her completely, she felt that after being abused and tortured, Greyback had planted in her a terrible disease that would emerge that very night, and that would confirm the words of the lycanthrope: "You and I are not that different".
"You should eat, it's not good for you to be starving yourself. You'll need your strength. I will need your strength". — Severus said, as he stirred the vegetable soup that she refused to even look at.
The wizard had spent most of the time with her, sitting next to the bed, reading to her, teaching her to play wizard chess, talking about banal matters, avoiding at all costs mentioning the incident with Greyback, avoiding recalling the months of confinement, as if that way he could erase the desolation that could be glimpsed in Laurel's eyes.
"I'm not hungry, Severus." — She whispered as she got ready to get up, pulling the quilt away from her and looking for her slippers with her gaze. — "Could you call Madam Pomfrey? I want to take a bath".
"It's ridiculous, just a spoonful, you are not five years old." — He insisted, bringing the spoon towards her only to finally let out a resigned sigh and abandon the plate on the table — "It's the third bath you take today... I know you said you don't want to talk about what happened, but I have to know..."
"Just drop the subject, please".
"You know you can trust me".
Laurel turned to him, brushing her hair back from her face, staring at him.
"I stink of him, Severus. I stink of Greyback, and I can't take it. I feel tainted, I need to take a bath. If you don't want to call Madam Pomfrey, that's fine, I can do it alone".
"I'll call her, Laurel". — He said, taking her face with his hands, bringing his lips to hers. — "If that makes you feel better, I'll call her".
Laurel turned her face, avoiding his kiss, her doe eyes shunning away from his gaze. She was not worthy of him. Severus deserved to be with a woman who was not broken, who did not carry in her blood the curse of being Akardos, of being a werewolf. He deserved a woman who hadn't been used by a monster.
"I'm sorry... I can't..." — She sighed, staring at the ceiling, convinced that if she looked at him, she might not be able to hold back her tears.
Severus didn't say anything else, just cradled her, stroking her hair. Laurel leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes until she felt she had the strength to stand up and head to the bathroom.
. . .
Madam Pomfrey came out of the bathroom drying her hands on a towel and glancing at her little pocket watch: 4:35 p.m. It was less than an hour before the sun set and so far, there was no indication that the girl had really been infected with lycanthropy, however, she had to start preparing everything necessary to contain her in bed in case there was some kind of transformation. She sighed and decided she would add a few drops of Wideye potion to her afternoon tea: Madam Pomfrey was to spend this Christmas Eve keeping vigil, watching for any possible change in the Akardos.
She was deep in thought when she noticed the dark figure in the hall. Professor Snape was sitting with his back against the wall, his cloak spread out on the floor, his legs drawn against his chest and his dirty hair covering his face.
"Severus?" — Madam Pomfrey called him, tapping him on the shoulder.
He woke up immediately, his black eyes scanning the hallway, searching for the young woman.
"Have you finished yet?" — He asked as he stood up.
"She wants to stay in the bathtub for a couple more minutes". — She answered while examining the professor's pale face. — "You should go and rest. I'll take care of everything".
"I don't need to rest. I want to stay, Poppy. Today especially".
The nurse nodded, giving him a compassionate smile.
"As you wish, Severus. Anyway, I will need someone with me in case the chains are not enough".
"Chains?"
"It is only a precaution. I'm sure Dumbledore is right, there are no indications the girl will turn into a lycanthrope. "
"She has had to put up with too much already. It is unnecessary to chain her".
"We cannot risk it. It is as much for her safety as it is for the safety of the other inhabitants of the castle".
"I'll take care of her; I'll take responsibility for what she can ... Argh!" — Severus's voice trailed off. The penetrating burning of his dark mark warned him that he was expected by his Dark Lord and the other Death Eaters as soon as possible.
Madam Pomfrey's eyes widened as she saw him squeeze his left forearm with a grimace of pain on his face:
"She will be fine. I'll take care of her, I promise you".
Severus nodded, turning a longing gaze toward the bathroom door. Madam Pomfrey, realizing that she must give him privacy, went to her office, leaving him alone in front of the door. Severus hesitated for a second, balancing his weight from one foot to the other.
"Why today? Why precisely now?" — He thought angrily.
He wanted to say goodbye, he wanted her to know why he had to leave her alone on the night she needed him most. He knocked on the door lightly with his knuckles but getting no response he slowly opened it. Steam engulfed the small infirmary bathroom and Severus could barely make out the figure huddled inside the tub, the long damp hair covering her scarred back. Her crying echoed off the tile walls and sadness washed over him as he heard her cry in such a way. He was about to call her name when a second stabbing pain shot through his forearm. Severus closed the door, careful not to make a noise, and leaned over it, taking a deep breath. Laurel was suffering enough already; he didn't want to worry her more.
He had to go.
She would understand.
. . .
7:00 p.m.
Laurel had been moved to a bed that was right next to one of the windows, making sure that the light from the full moon hit her all the way. At least she could admire from there the immense mountains that surrounded Hogwarts and part of the lake, forgetting at times the heavy chains that bound her hands and feet and the whispers of Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall, which merged with the carols that came from the Great Hall.
"…the way she rubs her skin, it's not normal at all. It seems to me that, although her physical wounds healed, there is another here — said Madam Pomfrey, pointing to her chest — that continues to torture her".
"Have you talked to Snape?"
"And what can I tell him? I think he notices. He looks a bit broken as well".
"I didn't know they were so close. I thought he had just rescued the Akardos from the clutches of the Death Eaters..."
Madam Pomfrey giggled:
"Didn't you realise that Snape has spent the last few days here? I almost had to kick him out with a couple whacks of a broom".
Professor McGonagall sneaked a glance at the woman sitting on the bed, her head turned toward the window.
"She is pretty". — She whispered. — "But more than that, she has to have an iron patience to bear Snape's sarcasm".
Both women gave each other a knowing look and continued with their card game.
8:38 p.m.
"Come on, just a bite!"
Madam Pomfrey had approached her with a plate of jacket potatoes and brussels sprouts, but Laurel curled up on the bed, her back to her, covering herself completely with the quilt.
"Maybe she would prefer some pudding". — Professor Flitwick said from the desk that had been transformed into a wide table and where now different delicacies and several bottles of mead rested. Flitwick was sitting with McGonagall and Sprout, playing a round of Explosive Snap.
"That is not nutritious at all, Filius".
"It's better than nothing". — He replied at the same time the card he was playing with suddenly exploded.
They all laughed when they saw how the professor's moustache caught fire and even Laurel couldn't help but peek over the quilt with curiosity.
10:12 p.m.
"Peeves has enchanted one of the Christmas trees to sing obscene carols!" —
Suddenly, Argus Filch voice stopped the joyful chattering of the Professors.
"Aren't the students supposed to be in bed by now? — Asked McGonagall, rising the glass of mead to her mouth.
"Well, yes, the very few remaining are back in their dormitories".
"Then who cares, Argus".
"I… I was just wondering where you were all".
Filch hugged her cat, Mrs. Norris, realising there was a stranger chained in one of the beds.
"Who is it? I haven't checked her with the Secrecy Sensor".
"An Akardos, Argus".
"A Soulless one? How did she sneak into the castle? Dumbledore must be informed immediately!"
"She did not sneak in; she is our guest. Just shut your mouth and pour yourself a glass of mead".
10:48 p.m.
"Happy *hic* Christmas!"
The huge figure of Hagrid entered the infirmary followed by Fang, his over-sized boarhound dog that ran waving its tail, sniffing the teachers' feet. Mrs. Norris hissed and swatted, causing the dog to run away and head for Laurel's bed, where it tried to lick her face.
"Hagrid, please!" — Madam Pomfrey exclaimed running after Fang and cleaning the floor covered in dog drool.
"Leave it Poppy, it's almost Christmas". — Professor Sprout smiled; her face flushed for the effect of mead.
"Aye, that's the spirit!" — Hagrid exclaimed, clapping his hands and turning his kind and bright eyes to the Akardos. — "And how's the little cub? Still no *hic* tail, innit?"
Laurel, who was stroking Fang's neck, blushed and shook her head.
"O' course not. No need to worry, lass."
"It is not yet midnight." — McGonagall said taking advantage of that moment when Laurel seemed to have let her guard down to approach her. — "What's your name?"
The Akardos gulped, looking around. They were all silent, their eyes fixed on her expectantly. Finally, the real reason everyone had ended up crammed into the infirmary on Christmas Eve. It was the first time they had seen a Muggle at Hogwarts, the first time they had seen a Soulless one in the flesh.
"Laurel". — She muttered.
"HA!" — Professor Sprout exclaimed, her eyes twinkling, and a huge smile crossed her face as she finally understood that strange request from Snape. — "Snape is really fond on this one, lemme tell you".
"How d'you know that?" —Hagrid asked.
Sprout's smile faded a bit, realizing that maybe it wasn't very noble of her to gossip what she knew. Snape had trusted her enough to ask her a favour and it would be better not to reveal the details.
"Nothing, nothing ... it's the mead talking".
Minerva raised an eyebrow, looking at her suspiciously. She then turned to Laurel.
"You must not be afraid, Laurel. We will not harm you". —She said in a voice that tried to sound maternal. — "What has happened to you? How did you end up at Hogwarts?"
The Akardos scanned her face, her sharp blue eyes framed in square spectacles. She wanted to be able to trust her, she wanted to let go of all the secrets harbouring in her soul: The trauma of the attack, the months of loneliness and abuse, the deep love she felt for Severus. However, she knew that she had to be careful, she did not want to expose him, she did not want him to be judged as her abductor, as her jailer. She didn't want their pity, or their morbid astonishment.
"I'm just a lab rat". — She said, trying to make her brittle voice take on the same cold tone as Severus's.
11:38 p.m.
"And the scars on your back?"
"Whipping. I made the mistake of speaking to a wizard".
"It's incredible that they let you live that long".
"The Death Eaters wanted to finish me off from the get-go. Severus kept me alive".
The wizards looked at each other, waiting for whoever dared to ask the question that they all had on the tip of their tongues. Minerva, like a good Gryffindor, ventured first:
"Professor Snape still seems to care too much about you… you two…?"
"He is my friend". — Laurel cut her off, shrugging and noticing the sceptical gaze of the others, she added:
"You seem surprised. Why?"
"Ah... let's just say he's not the type to have friends".
"Aren't you... his friends?"
"Oh well, yes. I personally consider myself his friend. Not the closest, I don't think anyone is close enough, most of us here could say that we are colleagues… Severus doesn't have the warmest personality, you know what I mean?"
Laurel nodded, the corner of her mouth curving into a slight smile as she remembered the caustic comments Severus had thrown at her at first, his refusal to speak to her, then the subtle way they began to get along, drawing closer together, amalgamating their feelings. She reached a hand to the pendant that hung around her neck and caressed it lovingly, thinking of Tobias, grateful that he had, somehow, put his son in her way.
"Can I taste some mead?" — She said suddenly, looking with bright eyes at Minerva.
She looked at Madam Pomfrey who nodded, smiling:
"Only if it is accompanied by a plate of food".
Laurel watched from the bed as the others resumed their Exploding Snap game and cheered each time a blast lit the crowded infirmary with colourful flares. The laughter and jokes of the teachers began to infect her and for the first time, Laurel realized that despite being chained, she was no longer a prisoner and not all wizards and witches believed the same way as the Death Eaters.
She was happy at Hogwarts, and she was happy being on Albus Dumbledore's side.
11:53 p.m.
"OHO! So, you were all here!"
A short, paunchy man in silk pyjamas and velvet plush slippers suddenly appeared through the doorway. His watery gooseberry eyes and his flushed face showed that he was quite drunk.
The attendees turned their gaze to him: some raising their glasses inviting him to sit down, others chuckling at his presence.
"Nice gown, Horace". — Flitwick said with a mocking laugh.
"Thanks". — Slughorn replied, stroking the soft lilac silk that covered his enormous belly. — "It is a gift from the great shaman Shen-Wu, pure silk from giant Gobi worms... And who do we have here?"
Horace Slughorn was drawn to Laurel like a magnet. He approached her, looking first at her chains, however, her gaze did not take long to go to her chest, where the Prince family medallion rested.
"But… I've seen this before… where?" — His watery eyes fell on Laurel's, questioning.
Quickly the woman tucked the necklace under her clothing, hiding it from Slughorn's sight.
"Family heirloom". —She whispered.
"Horace, you better get away from her right now". — Madam Pomfrey exclaimed, noticing the time. — "It is just a couple minutes before midnight".
"Midnight?" — Slughorn seemed to suddenly forget about the medallion. He turned his watery gaze to the table and then seemed to understand.
"You have a lycanthrope in the infirmary?"
"We do not know yet. Most likely not. She is an Akardos".
"Akardos? Akardos?! " He turned his head towards her, a greedy gleam appearing in her eyes. - "Do you have any idea how important it is to have one of these at hand? The possibilities… I have friends who would be very interested in examining her… Some say they are considered good luck charms. The few that are found are bought their weight in gold by some sheikhs of the Middle East..."
"Snape better not hear him speak like that". - Sprout whispered mischievously to a McGonagall who was watching the scene with an angry expression on her face, her lips pressed into a fine line.
"Enough, Horace". — McGonagall stood up, waving an accusing finger. — "That is no way to talk to the poor girl. Her name is Laurel, and be it witch, muggle or Akardos, she is more than anything, a human being who from now on, will live with us in the castle. So, I hope you to behave and apologize".
"Sure, of course". — Slughorn had turned red with embarrassment and speaking quickly he addressed the Akardos. — "It was not my intention to offend you. I'm only talking about your qualities and what better way than to know how much you are worth…"
"Horace, please". — Madam Pomfrey's voice was more agitated. — "There are only a few seconds left".
"…You have nice hair. I know an apothecary who would be willing to pay a handsome sum of Galleons for it. Of course, we would share the profits. Seventy, thirty. What do you say?"
"Horace! It's midnight!"
"OOWOOOO!" — Laurel let out a deep, chilling howl that made everyone present gasp and rush for the door. Others like Madam Pomfrey and McGonagall pointed their wands at the woman who was now cracking up on the bed with laughter. And it wasn't from seeing the others scared, trying to shove themselves out the narrow door of the infirmary, but for Slughorn, who, being so close to her, could barely manage to recoil in fear, stumbling on the table, falling on his ass to the floor and taking with him the tablecloth: all the food and cups of mead fell on him, soiling him from head to toe, his fine silk pyjamas now turned into a canvas of abstract art.
Hagrid laughed first, followed by Flitwick and Sprout and within seconds they all laughed, recovering from the shock, repairing the damage, helping Slughorn to his feet and all sitting down at the table once more.
"Worthy companion to Snape, isn't she?" — Pomona whispered to Minerva and Poppy as they watched Hagrid removing the chains, allowing the cheerful woman to join them at the table, once it was clear that she had not been infected with Greyback's fearsome disease.
The three witches smiled cheekily.
. . .
"I request your presence at Hogwarts, Remus. The sooner the better. You will find this new mission ... interesting".
The silver phoenix was gone, leaving the shack in darkness. Remus rose shakily and exhausted, his mind settling back to the constrictions of a human body. He dressed quickly and taking the wand, he disappeared with a loud thud.
