Dragons and Venom

The dull and cold November day embraced the importance of the Tournament without any attention. It did not diminish the cheering of the crowd awaiting the fight in great anticipation. Madam Pomfrey fussed in the first-aid tent, frantic about the idea of the ministry to use dragons. Leonor grinned; all preparations were perfect like in a hospital. Ointments for scratches, burns and other possible injuries stood in a cupboard. The younger witch brought also some other than the regular medication as well as a large package of magical plants for potions. Poppy was satisfied; the two healers shared the common sense to better be prepared for the worst case. Professor McGonagall visited them after escorting Potter from the school. Her eyes shimmered in an unusual, wet glance and Leonor transfigured a handkerchief from a piece of paper to show her sympathy. Leonor wanted to distract them a bit and started to talk about the travelling through Europe. She explained to have met Madam Maxime. McGonagall and Pomfrey quieted after learning that Leonor worked with dragons before. Leonor kept the issue with the Horntail's tail still secret whilst being happy to improve the relationship to the two women a bit. It would only be frightening, and nothing changed the task. She should have published the information, but for fear of being discovered, she refused to do it. Peter would publish once somebody continued the research, but due to a lack of dragon-keepers with medical interest, it had not happened yet. Leonor hoped nothing required the knowledge today.

Leonor watched the fight from the first-aid tent until Fleur and Victor came to their official check-up and the healing of some minor injuries. She missed Harry's fight, but the cheers of the crowd and the applause spoke volumes. He had done very well. Leonor exited the tent after the battle quickly sending the two foreign champions to rest. She rushed after the Hungarian Horntail to help the dragon-keepers trapping the beast in the cage. They had already managed a good piece of the way. The lads outwitted the dragon with the nest; the female walked behind the eggs like a goat chasing a carrot. Leonor was breathless running through the forest before drawing level. She slowed down to walk with the lads behind. They sent spells to the dragon's tail from time to time keeping up the speed. Everything was good, and the Horntail set a foot into the cage examining the eggs with an almost gentle look. Leonor changed position to help with chaining the dragon when a reckless stunner hit the back of the beast. The dragon clubbed its tail unexpectedly while turning and changing the radius. Everybody ducked and tried to run, but Leonor was at the wrong side and right in the circle of the blows. The sharp spikes slashed through Leonor's robes. The tail grazed her waist only. She pressed a hand on the slit, but the fabric started to soak up the gushing blood. Peter opened his eyes wide shouting swear words to the young man.

Leonor swayed slightly before sitting on the forest floor, shocked by realizing the happenings. The bleeding diminished soon, and Leonor released the compression of the gash.

"Let it be, Peter. It cannot be changed," Leonor tried to calm herself.

"You know what it means, don't you?" Peter shouted at her.

"I do. Safe the beast. I'll go back to the school. I've prepared some stuff, and I was relieved seeing Potter return without needing it." She managed a sad smile.

"I'll come with you. You need help," said Peter, his voice angry and concerned at once. The young bloke squinted regretfully into Leonor's direction.

"No, you are required here. The dragon must be caged. I'll find somebody to help. There is some time left to act, right?"

"Are you sure?" asked Peter subdued. He knew the suggestion was the only thing to do without risking more injuries.

"Yes," confirmed Leonor and walked swiftly back to the edge of the forest. Her mind was racing about the best way to explain the incident to Madam Pomfrey. She needed to convince the matron fast or there would be no time left for explaining the essentials. Leonor wouldn't be able to finish the antidote herself. She couldn't hope for the additional emotional support in the hospital wing, but the dark green liquid would save her life. A depressed feeling clenched Leonor's chest. She recently evaded the threat of the emphatic curse but would soon face a similar mental pain and severe dreams.

The first-aid tent was empty and cleared in the meantime. The cubicles had already been removed and the furniture was neatly stacked. Poppy boxed the flasks and ointments with a cross expression when Leonor ran into the tent.

"You've got to help me." Leonor was pleading, the balanced temper was gone, the shock and agitation deep.

"You've to help here. I'm not clearing your stuff as well!" The matron did not even look up.

"I need a potion, an antidote! The Hungarian Horntail has venom in the spikes. I've been hit, and it will poison me slowly."

Madam Pomfrey looked up and examined the cut with trained movements. She handed Leonor the dittany from one of the boxes.

"No need to fuss around. I've never heard about a venomous dragon. It will heal in next to no time. Nobody knew where you've been. I've taken care of a Durmstrang boy who scratched his knee badly."

Madam Pomfrey had a point; Leonor could have said something. It didn't matter to her now. She took the magical plants out of the cupboard, vanished the other unneeded medications quickly to Hogsmeade and zoomed out into the fresh November air. She didn't even feel angry about the stubborn attitude of the matron. It was little time for big explanations. She kept up the pace towards the castle heading for the Potions Master when a cold hand embraced her fingers.

"Slow down!" called a deep and furious voice.

She stopped with relief. Leonor expected Severus to be back in the Great Hall already. He caught the questioning look.

"The Prefects walked the Slytherins to the castle. I went to see Peter. He told me you've been injured."

"You believe it? Can you help?" said Leonor with new hope.

"Well, I heard already yesterday about the venom," scowled Severus, his face as pale as hers. He pulled Leonor suddenly close with one hand, both hearts pounded fiercely.

"You'll tell me what to do! It will be alright," he said in a calmer voice. "Let's go and not waste time!"

XXX

Severus removed the spells on the door to his office, and they walked in, hanging the cloaks to a hook. He hoped the students and teachers would be busy and excited enough to leave him alone finishing the task ahead. Peter had given him a piece of paper and urged Severus to find Leonor before digging to the details. Peter explained to have no idea about healing and potions because everything was done by his mother in Romania. He only snatched the formula from home to prepare himself for the worst case confident to find a helpful hand at Hogwarts. While Severus read the note, Leonor unwrapped the plants from the paper. She made piles of the different magical herbs hastily, other plants wandered back into the paper.

"You'll need a few drops of sage oil from your stocks. I must have vanished it to Hogsmeade by mistake," said Leonor weakly. Severus took a small vial of oil from a cupboard and put it to the workbench.

"So, what do I need to do exactly. I suppose the notes describe the antidote?"

Severus considered the mix of dried and fresh stalks, roots and leaves. Leonor took Peter's paper and copied it to a small blackboard above the workplace and added remarks behind some steps. Her skin was ashen, and it made effort to reach across the workplace to the board.

"Let me do it." Severus took the chalk out of her hand and conjured a stool to press Leonor down. She didn't fight it and her wand fell with a little clank to the floor. When he handed the wand back, she only shook her head indicating it was no good idea to use it.

"It is better you take my wand. I don't want to send stray spells. The antidote needs to be fresh and once ready it must be kept on the exact drinking temperature. All leaves and stalks should be pounded and mixed before being put into the boiling water. The mandrake roots must be cut with a silver dagger, sprinkled with the sage oil and added while cooling down. Everything else is on the board," explained Leonor. "It is not too difficult and takes about two hours before ready for usage."

"The recipe is correct? Are you sure?"

"Positive, we did enough research to confirm it. It will do what it can do, the earlier I drink it, the better."

"What's about the cut, you need to clean it and use some dittany?"

"No," Leonor shook her head, "—it needs to be open to release the venom and will heal when the toxic effects decrease. Dittany won't do any harm but will not improve things either. I can use some bandage on it, but it needs to be changed every few hours to remove the venom."

Leonor's voice was drawling as if the words formed reluctantly. She supported her head with the right hand, glassy eyes observed the workbench without realizing any detail. Severus noted all remarks, organized the plants and heated water in a cauldron above a low fire; everything was prepared to start to work.

"Why don't you sit in the armchair? You look lousy." His expression was stern, and a deep line appeared between the eyes.

"Severus, you'll have to feed me the potion. I'll not be awake. The venom creates a daze, a terrible one. If the antidote starts to take effect, you've to calm me down. If the daze becomes dreamless and quiet another helping of the antidote is required. It's like a rhythm and repeats about hourly."

"How do I know when it's enough?" asked Severus supporting the poisoned witch to the armchair where she curled up and closed the eyes. The power of the poison appeared to be strong, the toxic effects increased quickly.

"—if I remain calm after taking the antidote and continue sleeping without making any trouble then it's over. A small cup of the liquid is enough, but it may require some helpings. Keep me awake if you can."

Severus watched the motionless heap in the armchair. He had no clue what to do with the woman in his office. She belonged to the hospital wing and not here. She became fragile and the antidote needed his attention. He conjured some bandages to the armrest still hoping she'd be able to use them without help.

"I'll bring you upstairs to Madam Pomfrey and prepare the antidote while she will look after you." Severus stepped to the mantelpiece and took Floo Power from a small basket.

"No, she doesn't understand, the explanation takes too long. I trust you."

Leonor's voice was feebler, but she stirred as if in pain about being relocated. Severus could ask the matron any time later. The water was boiling, and the ingredients needed to be crushed and cut. He rolled up his sleeves and started to work. He was concentrated on the potion when Leonor called him.

"Talk to me, anything—"

He never talked while brewing, particularly not preparing an antidote. But Peter said something similar; 'Don't let her faint!' had been his words.

"What stupid idea made you work with dragons?" It was the first thing coming to Severus' mind, still scolding the lad sending the useless spell to the poor beast and causing more unnecessary pain. He heard Leonor almost laugh, but he couldn't avoid feeling protective. Even the dangers in her past made him nervous. She started to talk, slowly, every word a strain, but went on with it with frequent pauses.

"I didn't go there to work with dragons ... there're a small wizards school and a hospital too … when I arrived from the U.S. … the ministry required me to solve a criminal case at Scotland Yard … it was my ticket to move to England ... the police suspected to have dark magic involved ... it's been a clever muggle, a mass murderer, a psychopath, … a very ill mind … I supported the muggle profilers … but it had nothing to do with magic ... the deaths were solved in less than two months … I didn't know what to do next … the support of the ministry vanished … I hardly knew anybody and luckily met Richard … he suggested a traineeship at Mungo's … I did, but it fed me only a few months … I started at Gringotts to earn something and then decided to travel around Europe with the money … I've been in France, Switzerland, Italy, but nowhere longer than half year … the last place was Romania … before being accepted taking the healer certification … a young dragon-keeper and Peter had been insured by the Horntail before … the female breeds every year … it has something to do with the hormones if the venom is produced … we believe it's only to save the nest ... I found the antidote … but never published the study."

The potion was boiling sending hot steam everywhere, the crushed and mixed magical ingredients had been added. Severus waited for a change of colour, but there was at least half an hour time.

"Leonor, you should go to the hospital wing—," he turned and looked to the balled-up heap of misery. She shook the paper-white face almost imperceptible. The skin looked transparent and felt cold. Severus conjured a blanket growling to himself. Peter sounded confident to have enough time, but it looked worse than expected. He couldn't prod himself to force her to the ward sensing another odd wave of protectiveness.

"I want to change. There's something in the wardrobe on the seventh floor," she whispered crouching deeper into the armchair and under the blanket. Severus was lost in how to arrange it. The antidote needed his attention and Leonor shouldn't be alone. Leonor seemed to sense his confusion.

"Conjure it and send word to all headmasters. The children have to know where to find help." He bent low to listen to the words. Leonor's forehead was hot and glowing, despite the cold sweat on the skin. She had a fever. Severus swallowed the lump in the throat before waving his wand and concentrating on an unknown wardrobe on the seventh floor. He closed his eyes channelling the magic through the wand and numerous walls of the castle. A pile of clothes bumped into his chest and dropped into a mess to the floor. He noticed the flowery scent, a perfume with the oil of a lily of the valley. The summoning charm had worked, and the idea of accidentally ridding Flitwick's wardrobe was set aside. Leonor stirred in the armchair and sat up mobilizing all strength looking up into the dark and angry eyes.

"Severus, whatever you'll do, it will be the right thing to do. Use your instincts, even if it's awkward. The night will be tough. I'm not going to blame you for anything, alright? It's just between us."

Severus only nodded, unsure what it meant. He sensed to know nothing when turning his back to Leonor. Severus examined the potion turning slowly into a green and opaque liquid with a characteristic sweet smell. He reduced the heat and waited until the bubbles vanished. The antidote started to cool down. He cut the mandrakes with the silver knife to add them tinctured in sage into the dark shimmering cauldron. It would soon be ready, and he had to find the exact heat keeping the potion level with the drinking temperature. He listened to the sporadic sounds of swishing fabric and kept himself busy observing the antidote while writing a note to Dumbledore. Severus excused himself for the remainder of the day and asked to inform the matron, Igor and Madam Maxime. Madam Pomfrey needed to take over for a while. He exited the office and handed the message to the first student entering the entrance hall. A threatening look was enough to send the young Ravenclaw hurriedly up the stairs to search for the headmaster who would likely expect Severus to explain the incident. It could wait.