A Healer's Duty

Leonor landed hard in the bedraggled thicket of the apothecary's garden, a heavy crate in her hands. Hugo and Pauline greeted Leonor from the roof ridge and flew curiously down, watching the wooden box suspiciously. The healer glanced quickly around and checked the surroundings before walking into the back door.

"Hello!" said Leonor finally, exhaustion and joy in her voice. "I hope you will like the new family member." She glanced at the two large eagle owls, put the crate to the table in the potions' kitchen and stroked Pauline and Hugo, who had followed and sat expectantly on the workbench. Leonor opened it to reveal a nest made of feathers and ashes. A tiny Phoenix sat in the middle, discomposed by the transport and the change of location. He made no noise and opened the googly eyes slowly.

"The last living member of his ancestral family died. I've been lucky. There have been several applicants and he chose me. His name is Flint." Leonor caressed all birds by turns. The little Phoenix ruffled its feathers and accepted the new place after a while to fall into a slumber. The two owls nudged him gently before returning to their favourite branch on one of the impenetrable bushes.

Leonor made a fennel tea; she needed something to regain her strength and to shake off the slight feeling of an unaccustomed nausea. The journey had required an effort, and the island of bliss of last Sunday returned to her mind with a pleasant anticipation of a nice dream and a decent sleep at home. Leonor considered sending a quick note to Severus about the return, but any owl would soar into the middle of the Halloween Feast. She knew it wasn't wise.

XXX

The Halloween festivity in the Great Hall was in full swing and the banqueting table overstuffed with food and pumpkin juice. Floating candles illuminated everything in a gleaming light of treacle-gold and orange. Hagrid, Minerva, and most of the teachers chattered louder than the students; it got to Severus nerves more than every year. He hoped — as always — for an early end, planning a visit to Leonor. He wanted to know if she returned safely and waited to hold her tight, yearning for the softness of her body. He felt ashamed to admit that the wish to see Leonor overshadowed the grief about Lily. Severus daydreamed behind an unfathomable grim and stony expression when a piercing pain shot through his arm. It burned like a scald and Severus pulled a wry face until the summons faded. The Dark Lord called him alone. He stood and waited to make eye contact with Dumbledore who watched in delight a hunt of ghosts hurdling through the gaping students. Severus used the havoc to exit quickly through the door behind the teacher's desk. Leaving the feast made a welcome escape. Meeting with the Dark Lord was a burden Severus was used to endure.

The feet carried Severus swiftly to the gates and outside the Hogwarts grounds; a touch of the Dark Mark transported him straight to Malfoy Manor. He raised an arm to open the richly ornamented golden entry gate. Then he walked along the wide driveway to the entrance. The peacocks knew by now to give way to dark clad visitors disturbing the aristocratic peace of a well-trimmed English park. House elves opened the door; their lace cloths were replaced by filthy rags of tea towels and covered barely the signs of serious maltreatments. Severus shook the miserable sight off and walked upstairs, composing himself to enter the Dark Lord's headquarters.

The large door of the vestibule stood open and Bellatrix squealed to announce the visitor. The sound hung still mid-air when Severus kneeled and bowed, addressing the Dark Lord in awe.

"My Lord, you requested my presence."

"Sit next to me!" ordered the master and relaxed thoughtfully with an inhuman smile, sitting at the front of the table and pleased with Severus prompt arrival.

Voices echoed now coldly in the once friendly majestic room. Dark curtains draped the high windows and shielded the room from any light. The nights became darker in the otherwise sunny Wiltshire since Lord Voldemort settled. Chandeliers were hexed to illuminate just the area near the Dark Lord. Bellatrix lingered in the edge, leaning against the mantlepiece, fidgeting with her crooked magic wand obviously in anticipation of something. Severus addressed her briefly with a nonchalant 'Bella'.

Silence filled the room after the common formalities. Severus looked to the snake-like face; the pupils dilated to faintly glowing slits. The threat emitted its smell of disgust; Severus sat rigid, exposing no emotion.

"Do you know why you are here, Severus?"

"The regular report is due, my Lord," replied Severus firmly.

"Indeed! Do not disappoint me! I may wreak my anger on you, because some of us plundered the wrong house on Sunday. They made a fool of us!" A silent 'Legilimens' forced its way into Severus' mind, penetrating the memory of Dumbledore talking about Emmeline Vance.

Bellatrix grinned, tapped the wand and bit her nails. She stood now exactly at the opposite side of the table, sending a smell of decay across the room.

Severus spoke and confirmed what the Dark Lord already knew, "Emmeline Vance survived the attack unscathed. Dumbledore likes to know if she was the target."

"Tell the muggle lover that we start to hit random muggle homes. There will more of those raids soon. He cannot hide them all," hissed the Dark Lord and the surrounding air froze. "Get information about the new whereabouts of that witch." He ceased from Severus' brain, obviously dissatisfied.

"The healer in Hogsmeade is back," stated Severus matter-of-factly. He couldn't risk hiding the information.

"Pius and Antonin say she's pretty. Do you bed her?" cackled Bellatrix and got stopped by the hands of the master who she admired the most. She pouted, glancing madly at Severus.

"We will see that soon, Bella." The Dark Lord touched briefly the mark with a black snake winding through a skull on his forearm. Severus listened carefully. Somebody tripped on the stairs; the noise of pain echoed upstairs. Another male voice snarled 'idiot, get out of my way'.

Lucius Malfoy entered first, kneeled, almost lowering his complete body to the floor. He whispered, "My Lord."

Pettigrew blundered a second later onto the room, almost flattening Lucius. Then the rat just stood still, caressed the ugly silver hand and gazed in silly anticipation from one person to the other.

"Severus bring the healer here! Peter will assist you." The command cut the peculiar situation like stropping a razor.

Severus immediately got up, leaving without a moment hesitation. The earlier he was back with the hostage the better. It was inappropriate to ask why Scott was required. The only reason of the summons tonight had been the return of the healer. The Death Eater patrols likely noticed the re-opened apothecary, it didn't matter anymore if Draco blabbed too.

At the door Severus called sharply without turning, "Pull yourself together, Pettigrew, or what are you still standing in the middle of the room?"

Peter Pettigrew winced and followed half-witted, tripping again noisily on the way to the exit. Severus just heard in the distance 'Inform your wife, Lucius. I want that healer to treat her. I am merciful.' After that Lucius screamed and Bellatrix issued another mad cackle of delight.

XXX

"Where are we going?" simpered Pettigrew running behind Snape's billowing cloak and struggling to keep up.

"Keep your mouth shut and follow my instructions. Put your mask on, now!" Severus' voice was just a dangerous whisper when he spoke through the solid black Death Eater face mask. The filigree ornaments on the mask matched the pattern on his wand.

Pettigrew pulled a stocking mask over his face and Snape let out a derisive snort. "Disgusting, serving the Dark Lord in the outfit of a muggle bank robber! Hold my arm if you don't want to get lost!"

When the rat clung to his arm, Severus concentrated, formulating a plan in his head. He would prefer to execute the raid alone, but the rat was the best opportunity to provide evidence of Leonor's hostile capture. It was certainly easy to plant some false memories in Peter's head in case necessary. Immediately, the unlike pair appeared on the field just outside Leonor's garden. It had rained. The air felt clammy, and the surrounding stood quiet in the darkness.

"Go and check if the coast is clear!" hissed Severus.

"Me?" quivered Pettigrew.

"Of course, you! The lights are switched on, she's at home," spat Severus. His face mask frightened the Ex-Marauder as much as the sock made the lousy rat to a laughingstock.

Peter jumped clumsily over the fence and toddled through the garden; he trampled over the flower bed with the rare yellow monkshood and always looked backward at Severus who lingered in the shadows waiting for the intruder alarm to go on. The lights in the apothecary went out on both floors. Leonor knew somebody was coming. Severus followed now in a safe distance, amused that Peter almost soiled himself in fear.

"Take the entrance at the ground floor," instructed Severus and pressed himself against the wall. The doorknob fumed already faintly. Pettigrew didn't touch it but fired an opening spell. Leonor's stunner hit Peter square in the chest before the opening spell knocked on the door. Pettigrew fell flat on his face, lying unconscious in the doorway. Everything was silent now, tense.

"Leonor? I am alone now," whispered Severus. "Are you alright?"

"What clothes did you wear last Sunday morning?" said Leonor tersely.

"A grey shirt and black pants." Severus flushed, grinning despite the awkward situation. He stepped over Pettigrew, feeling his pulse.

"Strong stunning spell, passed out for several hours." He lit the light, taking off the face mask.

Leonor pressed her back still against the wall in the surgery, transfixed by the shock. The wand pointed at Severus and then at the mask. "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named wishes to see me, doesn't he? Say that it's not true!" Leonor looked shaken, standing there in a fleecy night shirt with sleep in the eyes.

In the absence of better news Severus flung his left hand around Leonor's neck and pressed a kiss to her velvety lips, softly first and increasingly demanding until Leonor relaxed a little.

"I'm sorry, the Dark Lord requires your visit so fast. We need to hurry." The expression of Severus exposed nothing of the battle in his heart. The calm voice signalled that they had to go through the ordeal to survive.

"And what do I need to do?"

Severus mustered her with a critical look. "You look exhausted." His fingers traced the dark circles around her eyes. "It's good for the moment, looks as if we scared you to death. Dress in something black, best a formal wizarding gown and pack your medicine bag, except the Crutiatus Potion. I will plant some false memories into Pettigrew's mind meanwhile."

When Leonor looked still questioningly at Severus, he added quietly, "The patrol noticed the reopened apothecary on Sunday, maybe earlier. I assume the Dark Lord sent somebody to double check before he summoned me during the feast tonight to test my loyalty. I am glad you are here."

"I hurry." Leonor left the surgery and rummaged in the bag before she got upstairs to change the nightshirt into an appropriate dress. She fixed her hair neatly in a bun and tucked the wand and the Swiss army knife away.

"Peter is prepared. Have you got that owl in France?" Severus distracted himself with the small talk. It was another life's irony to introduce Leonor to the Dark Lord after their first night. Severus insides turned at the pure idea to visit Malfoy Manor under current circumstances. He put the worry aside.

"Yes, but it's not an owl. His name is Flint."

"A Phoenix?" Severus walked now into the next room, inhaling the smell of the apothecary. The tiny bird sat on its perch, bleary-eyed, tilting the still bald head toward Severus. Severus wondered if it was an invitation to caress the thin feathers of the living thing.

"Looks as if he's not afraid of you. I'm ready to go," said Leonor with a low voice.

"Don't worry too much. I heard that Narcissa is ill."

Leonor nodded, frightened and nervous.

Severus revived Peter and pushed him roughly outside. "Lead the way. I'll take care of Scott."

"Yes, yes," mumbled the confused coward. He remembered nothing except that they landed outside the fence and that Snape overpowered Scott.

When the group reached the mowed field behind the apothecary, Severus drawled threateningly, "No more mistakes Pettigrew, apparate back to the headquarters and announce our arrival, be quick." The rat pressed the Dark Mark and a slip stream sucked him away.

"Occlude your mind," said Severus. He did the same, their faces became rigid. He seized Leonor's waist before pressing the black snake on his left forearm. The landing was hard. Lucius appeared at the large front door, grinning about the struggling couple. Severus shoved Leonor along the driveway to Malfoy Manor, she tumbled, sagged at the knees and throw up.

"Pull yourself together, witch," hissed Severus and vanished the sick.

"Follow me!" called Malfoy menacingly when they came into earshot. He swiftly walked them into a bedroom at a far wing of the large manor.

"Narcissa, Scott is here, wake up," said Lucius almost softly, just the usual tinge of arrogance trailed within his voice.

Narcissa heaved herself upright, worry in the eyes. "You should not have brought her here." She looked seriously ill. Leonor walked over, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Instruction of the Dark Lord, Narcissa," said Severus, frigid. He put the mask back into the cloak. "I guard the door," growled Severus and left. Lucius followed when Narcissa confirmed that she was alright.

"Draco sent a note that you are back. I hope neither Draco nor Lucius did that to you. The house isn't our own anymore. We are prisoners," sighed Narcissa. "Did they hurt you? You look sallow."

"I'm a bit shaken from travelling. Tell me what's wrong with you. I suppose there's not much time."

Narcissa started to talk, and Leonor gave her soon a potion and a special tea. "I send you more with my owl. Will he let it through?"

"I tell Lucius to watch. Thank you, Leonor. You don't know how happy I am to see you."

"Alright," Leonor clasped Narcissa's hand warmly and the other witch returned the gesture. "Take the medicine for two weeks and it should improve your condition."

Narcissa confirmed and signalled that the examination was over. Lucius returned snarling, "No resistance or you will regret it, Scott."

Leonor pressed Narcissa's hand again before packing and walking to the corridor.

"Wipe her memory." Lucius held Leonor tight. Severus insides burned seeing the other Death Eater hassling Leonor so carelessly. Leonor looked up at Severus, the expression anxious, the face even more ashen.

"Are you instructed by our Lord to do so?"

"No, but usually …"

"Then there's no need for us to delete the memories. I will introduce Scott upstairs. Go and look after Narcissa!"

Lucius complained, but Severus nailed him down with his gaze, removing Leonor quickly from the Death Eater's grip. Severus wanted to say more about the Malfoy's fighting the wrong person in the inner circle, but he couldn't, or Voldemort would find out.

Severus lead Leonor away, stopping at a hidden corner. Leonor clung to his arm. Severus could tell that her vigour faded. The hard part still waited upstairs.

"I suggest making your capture a bit more violent."

"How?"

"It is better that way. It will match Pettigrew's memory. I bring the reality back when it's over."

Severus called 'Obliviate', precisely selecting the memories of the last hour, erasing their kiss and everything what did not fit to a hostile raid. Leonor slumped down when Severus finished the memory charm, her head throbbing painfully.

"Close your mind and hold your wand at the ready, invisible of course," whispered Severus almost inaudible to avoid being overheard.

Leonor just nodded.

They ascended the stairs and Severus spoke under breath again, "Brace yourself. You can do that. I am here." It gave Leonor an uplift, though she barely had an idea about the coming.

They entered through the large door. The vestibule appeared even darker under the circumstances. Severus shoved Leonor to bow deeply before she even had a look at the evil lord.

"Kneel down!" hissed Severus, bowed and addressed the Dark Lord directly. "My Lord, Scott visited Narcissa and more medicine will be sent over here by tomorrow."

"Ah! Welcome, Ms Leonor Scott," purred a high-pitched male voice. The sound alone created goose bumps on Leonor's skin. The same voice demanded now, "The healer should answer my questions. Bella be so kind and bring our guest closer to me."

Bellatrix Lestrange strolled around Leonor. The crooked wand of the witch grazed slightly over Leonor's skin. "Is Cissy alright again, sweetheart? Will you tell us the truth? Come with me."

The tip of Bella's wand burned on Leonor's arm like stinging nettles. Leonor decided to do nothing for the moment, she got up following the witch with the enormous mop of dark curly hair. Finally, she looked up at the tall figure of Lord Voldemort. He stood at the end of the long table, in greyish-white robes, a bald creature without a nose and callous glinting eyes. Their eyes met and a searing pain shot through Leonor's head, extracting the carefully prepared memories.

He circled Leonor, scrutinizing her carefully. Finally, Voldemort touched her chin, examined the cheekbones, her face.

"Severus, your playmate is a bit pale around the nose. Have you been a bit rough? Tut-tut!"

Severus didn't answer, he exhaled ominously.

"A pure-blood witch of the Shafiq family, the last one. What a fluke! Tell me about your grandfather and father. I hope for you that it is no blow."

"My grandfather originated from the Hernandez family, proud potion makers in the nineteenth century in South America. He travelled a lot under the name Bennet Smith, publishing several guides about poisonous plants. My father belonged to the wealthy García clan in Argentina."

"Interesting, indeed. Of course, I heard of the García's. They supported me; I remember. How come that your name is Scott?"

"I changed it to fit my travels. A Spanish name raises suspicion in Europe. How else can I help you, my Lord?" said Leonor firmly, holding the studying gaze and erasing all fear from her expression and voice.

"You may be helpful, indeed."

With those words the Dark Lord pushed Leonor back. His fingers left sore frozen spots on her chin. Leonor had no clue if he was satisfied, he appeared thoughtful.

"Bella, show that little present of your stay in Azkaban to that healer. The obnoxious smell of your fingers is disturbing."

"Why should I show something to that bitch?" Bellatrix Lestrange's magic wand pained Leonor's skin again. Leonor got angry and on the next try Bellatrix staggered backwards.

"I dare you!" shot Bellatrix at Leonor.

"What?" hissed Leonor menacingly. "Surprised that I don't like your childish stinging spell?" continued Leonor coldly. Bellatrix hesitated.

"We don't have all night, Bella!" frowned Severus, realizing that the Dark Lord's mood switched, having enough of that nonsense and the waiting.

Voldemort flexed the wand, pointing it at his most faithful follower. Before he acted, Leonor moved forward and gripped the hands of Bellatrix quickly. The nails looked unsightly, brownish and yellow discoloured and the biting smell became very prominent from a short distance.

"Indeed, the disgusting nail fungus comes from the decay in Azkaban. It grows in the damp and cool climate like a parasite. You pick it up scratching the walls." Leonor picked a flask from her shoulder bag and added some drops to the nails. "Take it twice a day. I will send you some more instructions and a recipe for something more specific. You need patience to get rid of that nasty fungus."

Bellatrix retreated into the darkness, pouting and aggrieved, she played with the vial, looking curiously at the liquid.

Severus made a step forward, taking Leonor's arm, both expected another command, waiting at the back of their mind to be released.

"You may go now!"

Severus and Leonor turned, walking with steady steps towards the door.

"I shall know when you betray anything about tonight!" called the Dark Lord with gloating satisfaction. "Bella, your turn!" The witch screamed in lunatic delight.

The Crutiatus Curse hit Leonor directly in the back, the pain boggling the imagination. She tripped, but Severus held her upright, dragging Leonor fast and against the power of the curse towards the exit.