Title - To Consort with the Devil 9 of ?
Rating - PG-13/T
Disclaimer - I own none of this, it all belongs to Rowling. No sex, slash or profanity.
Summary - Help, I need somebody!
A/N - A few more chapters of angst before the comfort I promise. Read and enjoy.
To Consort With the Devil
Chapter 9
A series of loud knocks roused Poppy Pomfrey from a deep, undisturbed sleep to a cautious, alert wakefulness. Mourning the loss of her warm bed, Pomfrey pulled on a dressing gown over her nightclothes and scrubbed at her still sleepy eyes, readying herself to administer whatever care was necessary to the student who had needed her enough to knock on her door at this hour of the night. She was no stranger to the late night needs of ill students, so it was with some surprise that she opened to door to find the Headmaster standing in the hall, looking quite worried.
"Headmaster! What can I do for you at this hour?" Pomfrey asked.
Dumbledore wrung his hands together in a very un-Dumbledorelike gesture that sent warning bells off in Pomfrey's mind. This was no ordinary wake-up call.
"It's Severus." said Dumbledore, "We found him in the forest tonight and in desperate need of your assistance. Hagrid is with him in the hospital wing now."
A small gasp escaped Pomfrey's lips at this news and she quickly fetched her wand before rejoining Dumbledore in the hall.
"How badly is he hurt?" she asked as they proceeded down the very short distance from her quarters to the hospital wing.
"Bad enough." answered Dumbledore cryptically. Pomfrey huffed and began making a list in her head of all the supplies and potions Snape might need. She was in for a long night if his injuries were as bad as she guessed them to be.
They reached the empty hospital wing in short order and Dumbledore led her to the secret entrance of the private room in the back. He tapped on a disguised brick that shimmered into a doorway and knocked softly on the door. The door opened a crack and Hagrid's bushy head peeked out.
"Thank Merlin yeh've arrived Madame Pomfrey. He's in a right state if I may say so mehself."
Pomfrey gave the gamekeeper a nod of gratitude and swept past him to see her patient. In the background she heard Dumbledore quietly thank and dismiss Hagrid, but the words did not penetrate her mind. Her attention was focused on the bundle of misery on the bed. She spared a moment to let her eyes roam over the bruised features and too thin form as a friend instead of a healer. Pomfrey smothered her own grief and anger at the cruelties of war and got to work.
Dumbledore, she noted, had remained in the room and she immediately put him to use.
"Look in the cabinet to your right Albus and find the skele-grow and bruise-be-gone potions. Measure out one dose of each."
With the Headmaster busy, Pomfrey used her wand to vanish Snape's bloody and torn robes and cast a cleaning charm on the startling pale skin. She frowned at the prominent ribs and curious burns that covered Snape's hands and arms. His wounds looked terrible, but upon closer inspection she could tell they were in the process of healing themselves, another curious sign. Pomfrey cast a series of diagnostic charms and gasped at the results.
"What! What is it!" Dumbledore cried out, knuckles white around the potions vials in his hands.
"I may not be well versed in the Dark Arts, but I've been trained to diagnose vampirism! Did you know about this Albus?"
The Headmaster's guilty silence confirmed the results of her spells, as did the partially faded bite mark on Snape's neck that she had not noticed until now.
"I did not know for sure until tonight Poppy. Voldemort turned Severus as punishment for his betrayal."
Pomfrey sighed sadly and continued with her ministrations. She did not ask Dumbledore about the details of Snape's exposure as a spy or his history with Voldemort when it was written with disturbing clarity on the potions master's tortured body.
It was hard work removing the effects of the Death Eater's curses and the two of them labored long into the night to save their friend. Pomfrey tended Snape's burns, fractures, bruises and other spell-damaged flesh while Dumbledore measured potions, wrapped bandages and aided the nurse in any way possible. Finally, Pomfrey pulled the blankets around Snape's healing body and set the monitoring charms over the bed. She and Dumbledore sat down heavily and spent a few moments taking solace in the steady, sedated breathing of the vampire in the bed. In the silence Pomfrey reflected that the easy part was likely behind them and the more difficult tasks were still to come. She was startled when Dumbledore drew his wand and cast another set of monitoring charms over Snape as well as a restraining charm that would keep Snape magically confined to the bed. Pomfrey looked on in outrage and was going to give the Headmaster a piece of her mind when Dumbledore raised his hand and cut of her tirade.
"I know what you are going to say Poppy, but I assure you these actions are in Severus's interest."
"How could binding him to the bed after everything he has been through possibly be good for him!" Pomfrey exclaimed.
Dumbledore sighed and removed his glasses, taking a second to clean them and find his strength. He slid them back on and lifted his solemn gaze to rest on Snape's pinched features.
"When Hagrid and I found him in the forest tonight, Severus was trying to end his life. He believed he had become a monster and had nothing to live for. I fear Severus is deeply suicidal and must be on constant watch in case he harms himself, hence the charms and restraints."
Pomfrey quietly processed this grim news and knew her job just got a lot harder. She would have to consult with some colleagues at St. Mungo's about suicidal depression and organize a watch system among trusted faculty and Order members until Snape could be released to his own devices. Only time, it seemed, would heal the inner wounds.
"I'll do what I can for Severus in the short term, but we should consider bringing in St. Mungo's or other professional help for him. With the school term in full swing we can't let the students wonder at anyone's extended absence."
"I'm afraid St. Mungo's isn't an option right now." replied Dumbledore, "They will be required to notify the Ministry about his vampirism, a fate I want to spare Severus for as long as possible. We can take short shifts with him and strengthen the charms. I will enlist volunteers from the faculty and Order to help if necessary."
Agreeing to this plan for now, they exited the private room and Pomfrey ushered the Headmaster to the door.
"Go and get some sleep Albus, you look like you could use it. I'll stay with Severus for tonight and we will reevaluate his treatment tomorrow."
"Good night Poppy and thank you." Dumbledore told her and wearily left the hospital wing. He absently wandered the halls of the castle for a while until his tired feet led him up to his tower and bed. Sleep, however, was a long time in coming that night.
- & -
Remus Lupin bounded up the steps of Hogwarts, a message crumpled in his fist. He had received an owl from the Headmaster early that morning asking if the werewolf could visit him at Hogwarts as soon as was possible. The message contained no other hints as to Dumbledore's intentions, but Lupin did not hesitate in hurrying to the castle after a quick shower and breakfast. There was probably some bit of Order business that needed his urgent input and could not wait until the normal meeting scheduled for later that night.
The school was relatively deserted at this this early hour, with only a few house elves and morning students roaming the halls as Lupin made his way to the Headmaster's office. The gargoyle was apparently expecting him and carried him up without a password. He politely knocked on the office door and heard Dumbledore call for him to enter.
The Headmaster was seated at his desk, looking worse than Lupin had ever seen him. Tired eyes looked up as he crossed the office to take the seat that was offered. Even Fawkes looked more bedraggled than usual after a burning day, managing only a short chirp for Lupin as he sat down.
"Ah, Remus. Thank you for coming with such speed. It is most appreciated."
"No bother at all Headmaster, though I confess your note has me quite confused as to what exactly is going on here."
"Of course." agreed Dumbledore, but said no more. Lupin waited, sensing the Headmaster would speak on his own time and eventually he did, getting right to the point of Lupin's visit. "Severus was returned to us last night, alive but grievously injured."
"Well that's good news, isn't it Albus?"
"Yes, yes of course, but unfortunately I shall require your advice and expertise in handling his situation."
Lupin nodded, feeling a distinct impression that he already knew what had happened and why he had been summoned. He then recalled Order meetings regarding Snape and his past with vampires and it did not take long for Lupin to conclude what Dumbledore wanted him to.
"He was turned by a vampire wasn't he?" Lupin finally asked.
"Yes, he was. When he is better I would like you to speak with him and perhaps help Severus adjust to his ah, dark attributes. I believe you are uniquely suited to this task and will be of great comfort to him." answered Dumbledore.
Lupin sat back in his chair and thought about the situation. Snape was a fiercely proud person and would be guarded against any offer of friendship or sympathy, seeing them as signs of pity. It would be a great test of Lupin's character if he could get Snape to trust him enough to open up about his captivity and adjust to his vampirism. A small, perverse part of Lupin also thought it would be interesting to see Snape humbled by his new status as a dark monster, considered the lowest of the low by the rest of the wizarding world.
"I'll talk with him, but I don't think Severus will want to see me, let alone speak about his ordeal and change with me."
Dumbledore waved away his concerns and looked quite relieved.
"Thank you Remus, that is all I can ask. Now before you go there is something else that requires your input."
Frowning, Lupin wondered what else the Headmaster had planned for him.
"Go ahead."
Dumbledore turned and gazed out a window at the dawn sky, apparently gathering his thoughts. When he spoke, his voice was hesitant.
"I was wondering what advice you could offer, considering your own past, on how to deal with someone who has been violated and altered without his permission. Severus is already suffering from suicidal thoughts and has shown no sign of accepting what has happened to him. Any words of wisdom you could give me would be most appreciated."
Now it was Lupin's turn to gaze out the window as he cast back to the chaotic and uncertain time right after his bite and the reactions from his parents.
"All I really remember after I was bitten was the steady presence of my parents. They were there to tend my wounds and hold my hand when I got scared. Without them I probably would have gone insane or been put down by the Ministry. Just let Severus know you won't abandon him and will continue to protect and care for him and in time he should open up and accept his fate."
The Headmaster absorbed this and they discussed a few other important matters before Lupin excused himself and rose to go. They walked out to the gates together where Dumbledore said,
"Thank you again for coming on such short notice."
"You're most welcome Albus. Tell Severus I'll be back to speak with him when he feels better. I hope everything works out."
"I hope they will as well, but we must be patient. I will owl you should anything come up." Dumbledore said as they shook hands and parted.
"Good luck and good day then." Lupin replied and walked outside the gates to apparate away.
Dumbledore paused to watch the sun continue to climb the sky, sending out its own rays of hope. He took solace in the sun's beams and prepared himself for the hard tasks ahead. He took a deep breath and headed back up to the hospital wing - to Severus.
TBC