Chapter 6: The Man in the Painting

"Albus," cried Minerva, "they've found Mister Malfoy!"

An old man in the painting turned toward the new Headmistress, his beard not do white but gray and his blue hat much more shinier than before.

"I have no doubt he is well and alive."

"Alive, yes!" Minerva said. "As for his condition. I would have never dreamed of being in his situation. Parts of his skin were eaten by spiders!"

Professor Dumbledore, now staring more seriously at McGonagall through the oil paint, rubbed his chin and thought heavily.

"I'm sure Severus knew what he was doing."

"Knew, knew!" cried McGonagall, still as frantic as before. "He left him for dead! You promised that Severus was following your orders by saving Mister Malfoy. I don't believe he was following you at all!"

"I'm afraid Severus had to make it look convincing," said Dumbledore. "Voldemort would have known that Severus had been on our side all along if he just left Draco safe and sound sitting on Hogwarts' doorstep. No, I'm afraid he did what he had to."

"Leaving a young boy behind to be eaten alive is not what he had to do! I realize that you may have spoken to Severus on several occasions I do not know about and for whatever reason have been fooled into believing him to be of a different nature. What I don't understand is how, after realizing the state that he left Mister Malfoy in, still believe his intentions were good?"

Minerva McGonagall was sweating out of guilt and anger. Part of her still wished to believe in Dumbledore, even if he was dead, and the other more logical and wise part realized what others like Harry Potter had known all along, that Severus Snape was pure evil.

But Dumbledore, despite all the evidence now pressed against him, remained as calm as a gentle sea breeze. The coolness around him made McGonagall even more annoyed, because she was so emotionally crazed and he was obviously unfazed by it all.

"Who do you believe contacted the order in order to save Mister Malfoy?"

"But Snape petrified him!" cried McGonagall. "They found the boy barely able to blink!"

"A necessary precaution. Do you not remember I had to do a similar thing to Harry? It was in order for him not to do anything foolish. I am sure Severus had a similar intent."

Minerva was struggling to keep her tone down. "His intent was for the spiders to have an easy prey!"

"Oh, don't be silly," replied Dumbledore coolly. "If Severus wished for him to be eaten alive, then he would not have contacted the Order before petrifying Draco. He risked himself by doing this, and could have been caught by the Death Eaters, but Severus knew he could not leave Draco there."

"Contacted the Order?" said Minerva. "You think he was brave because of this? He was probably leading them into a trap, to be eaten alive too! I just don't understand this, and how after he murdered you, that you could still be so stubborn about him."

"Murder is such a terrible word. Severus did not kill me with delight, I assure you. I had met with Severus several months earlier, and he was well aware that condition was worsening. You see, by stealing the Horcrux ring, I took upon the curse that had been placed upon it. I was dying, and if it were not for Severus, I would have never lasted til that night in the tower. Severus and I had regular meetings every week, to check upon my status. It happened like this…

"Two, mindful two, of these elixirs should do the trick," said Severus Snape.

Professor Dumbledore was handed two silvery bottles each about the size of an average thumb. They were unlabelled and could have concealed just about anything liquid.

"Drink them slowly, about one sip every minute for three minutes every night," Snape said carefully. "If something should happen to this, then it would take me months to create new ones."

"May I ask what is in the potion?" asked Dumbledore.

Snape sneered, as if he truly did not want to reveal the genius ingredients. "Mainly a collection of basic healing herbs, anything from pussy snag to blackstung beetles. Of course, the rare ingredient is the key. Half of a pint of a horned fawn's blood."

Dumbledore stared at the viles in his hand. "Is not a horned fawn a kid unicorn?"

"Correct, but I do not believe I am here to teach lessons tonight, Professor," said Snape coldly. "You are to take this as directed and nothing more or less."

"I see, I see. And this will extend my life?"

Snape felt as though he were lecturing a dumb first year who could not tell the difference between enchanted water and plain pumpkin juice. He nodded his head while sighing to himself quietly.

"One full moon's cycle," said Snape. "After that, I am afraid your condition will continue at a normal pace."

"One full moon's cycle… That should just be enough time. Thank you, Severus," said Dumbledore. "And about last week's talk. You do realize that you cannot break your Vow? That you must protect Draco at all costs? Even if the cost is of another's life?"

"Yes, I understand fully," said Severus. "And I do believe you do as well."

Dumbledore subtly winked under his half-moon spectacles. "Indeed."

Headmistress McGonagall stood baffled in disbelief. Had Snape really been secretly conversing with Dumbledore without her knowledge? And what deadly illness did Dumbledore hide that other a life-extending potion procure?

"May I ask what it was?"

Dumbledore knew she meant his illness. While of course he was now dead and should have no trouble talking about living diseases, he still seemed somewhat hesitate in answering her question. After a few minutes of awkward silence, he leaned forward as if he was going to pop through the painting.

"As you are well aware of, I had been researching about the Horcruxes for some time, ever since the Voldemort chose to fulfill the prophesy. Three years ago, after the Triwizards Tournament, I fallen slightly ill to my old age. My memories had started to become more distant, and my reliance on my pensive increased greatly. Knowing that my illness was indeed old age itself, I knew that I only had so many years to complete my tasks.

"I had successfully retrieved the Horcrux ring, as I have told you before; however, the costs were much higher than I made you believe. In my first attempt to take the ring, I was burned terribly throughout my hand, blackening it. Trying to hold the ring foolishly, when all I had to do was place it on my finger to avoid injury, had poisoned me. There was a curse upon that ring, that if someone should steal it from its rightful owner, then death shall be brought to them swiftly.

"Obviously, I was not killed right away. I placed the ring upon my finger and used, well, all necessary enchantments in order to release the poison. I sustained minimal damage."

McGonagall interrupted. "You call losing a hand minimal?"

"In comparison to losing my life, yes. However, the curse did indeed take its toll of my already dying body. I had no idea how long I would live after that adventure, and so, I graciously asked if Severus could help me elongate my life."

"You sold your soul to him," mumbled McGonagall. "You allowed him to probably poison you further!"

"On the contrary, he extended my life long enough to save Mister Draco from making a terrible error. Think of this… What would happen to Draco if I had died, of natural old age, in my office as Draco had been attempting to poison me or send me cursed lockets throughout the year?"

"He would have thought he killed you," said McGonagall softly.

"Yes, and with that guilt weighted upon his already shattered heart, he would surely fall into the wrong side. You see, by helping me, Severus kept his Vow to protect Draco."

"Even in death you believe his nature to be good?" McGonagall asked for the last time.

"Yes."

"Then I must accept it," she said.

This is it for now with classes starting. If you want more, you must comment!