Chapter five - An anxious wait

Snape looked gravely at Professor McGonagle. "Look at his hand again Minerva. The blackness is still spreading and more rapidly now." She looked as instructed and her face that had moments before looked so comforted turned back to its former worried expression. "But at least I think that I know what to do with that." said Snape trying to sound reassuring, something he was not very used to and consequently not very good at, but Professor McGonagle understood. After having said this he stormed out of the room and when he returned he carried a box containing something green and dry. "It's seaweed" he explained. "You've got to help with it, we need to soaked it and cover his hand and arm in it."

They did this as fast as they could. Instead of being black Dumbledore's arm now look as green as the Merpeoples skin. "I think he also needs something to stop it spreading inside of him. This seaweed is usually used for severe burn wounds, but it will mostly mend the skin." She marvelled at him, wondering how on earth he knew al this. "Where have you learned al this?" "When I was younger I wanted to be a healer, but when I applied after leaving Hogwarts I was told I didn't have the personal skills they required" he said a trace of bitterness in his voice. Professor McGonagle didn't know what to say. This was the most information about Snape's life she had ever gotten from him. The next moment her thoughts returned to Dumbledore again.

"Do you know which potion to use Severus?" she quietly asked. "I hope so. I need some ingredients from my stores. It will only take a minute." As he said this he quickly left the room and five minutes later he returned with his arms laden with things.

Snape started preparing the ingredients. His hands working fast and his face showed clearly that he was absorbed in the work. McGonagle who had never really liked Severus or known him for that matter had always respected him for his skills and in this moment she thanked the heavens that he was there. She asked it there was anything she could do to help him, but he shook his head and carried on with the potion without saying a word.

Feeling useless and knowing her presence not important at the moment she decided to fetch Madam Pomfrey so that she could help them. She left the dungeons and walked quickly across the Entrance Hall. She opened the front door and was surprised to see that the sun had almost disappeared behind the Forbidden Forrest. She had no idea that it was so late.

She set of in a brisk trot and a couple of minutes later she reached the gate. Outside she disapparated and when she returned ten minutes later she was accompanied by Madam Pomfrey who on hearing about Dumbledore's condition had agreed to leave her family immediately in the hope that she could be of any help to them.

Snape looked up from the cauldron that was now containing a dark boiling substance and was surprised to see Madam Pomfrey entering the room. Behind her followed Professor McGonagle. He thought to himself that it had been wise of her to fetch the school nurse, but he didn't voice his gratitude. Instead he walked towards the women who were now standing looking down upon Dumbledore and his hand.

It was clear that Minerva wanted to remove the seaweed covering Dumbledore's hand and as she looked questioningly at Snape he nodded "But only a bit of it and it has to be put back on in a hurry!" She gently removed some of the green stuff covering the injured hand and as Madam Pomfrey say the skin she let out a frightened gasp. "What has happened to his hand?" she asked terrified.

"We don't exactly know Poppy, but I am treating it as I would a burn wound." Snape didn't ask for her opinion but she gave it anyway. "I think that is a sensible thing to do," she said and looking at the steaming cauldron she continued: "Is that Healer Mayfon's Elixir of Ice?" Snape nodded "but I have added a bit finely powdered bezoar so that it can cure him if this is al caused by a poison. I don't think it is, but I prefer being safe."

"That sounds sensible." Madam Pomfrey went to Dumbledore and examined him carefully taking his pulse, feeling his forehead and so on. She looked gravely at the teachers. "He is very weak" she said bowing her head in concern. "I sincerely hope that the potion is going to work. You need to finish it fast Severus, for he will not live long like this." "It will be ready in a few minutes"

The three of them waited anxiously. Snape stood by his cauldron and the two women were next to Dumbledore. They were al silent and the only noises that could be heard were their breathing and the boiling potion. "The colour is changing now, quickly! I need a cup. There are some in the top draw in the desk." Professor McGonagle found one and handed it to Snape who had taken the cauldron of the heat. He poured some of the now light blue liquid into the cup and went over to Dumbledore. "It needs to cool down a bit before we can give it to him."

Madam Pomfrey took the cup from Snape and lifted Dumbledore's upper body with al the experience that came from being a school nurse for 18 years. She waited a moment, felt the potion with her little finger to check the temperature and then gently put the cup to Dumbledore's lips. He gulped down some of the potion and then some more until it was half empty. Poppy was apparently satisfied and the others who trusted her skill on this field didn't say anything as she sat the cup down.

"He needs to go to the hospital wing to get some rest in a proper bed." Professor McGonagle was just about to ask how they should move him when Snape bent down and picked Dumbledore up. He carried him to the door and the women followed him. Madam Pomfrey had the sense to take the cauldron with her so that they could give Dumbledore some more potion of it if he needed it.

In the hospital wing Snape laid Dumbledore down on a bed and sat down on the chair that Madam Pomfrey offered him. "Now there is nothing to do but wait and hope for the best" she said. The next couple of hours were past in silence. Dumbledore seemed to be sleeping now and slowly his breathing became steadier and deeper.

Around midnight they were al pulled out of their trance as Dumbledore slowly moved on the bed and opened his eyes. He was too weak to speak, but when he saw them watching over him he looked relieved. Madam Pomfrey went to get the potion and when she offered it to him he drank it slowly and fell asleep again.

"It is working" she said with a sigh of relieve. "You can both go to bed now. I'll take care of him." Professor McGonagle and Snape looked as if they were about to protest. "I insist. I don't need either of you to get sick because of anxiety and lack of sleep, so go to bed. You can come back tomorrow." She looked so sternly at them that they could do nothing but submit to her will and they left the ward together in silence.

They reached the stairs, said goodnight and went in opposite directions to their bedrooms. As Snape reached his room he lay down on the bed and fell into a dreamless sleep instantly.