A Promise to be Better 16
Author: Raven Dancer
disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling except for the Drs. Barnes and Beryl. I receive no monetary compensation for these works.
Summary: Contingency Planning
The heads of houses, Hagrid, Filch and Madame Pomfrey were called to the Headmaster's office after lunch. McGonagall walked in and immediately caught sight of the Healer from Hogsmeade bending over Professor Snape. Dumbledore was sitting next to the couch, waiting. The Potions Master was asleep, or unconscious, on the Headmaster's couch. She moved over to the table to join the rest of the staff.
"What happened to him?" McGonagall whispered to Flitwick. The charms professor simply shrugged. She accepted a cup of tea from Lupin and waited for the Headmaster to join them.
The Healer quietly spoke to the Dumbledore. A couple questions, a little more discussion. Finally the Headmaster pushed up and with the Healer moved to the table to take their seats.
"Thank you for all being so prompt," Dumbledore began, accepting tea from Lupin. "I would not disturb your weekend but this is of great importance." He looked at each person that sat at the table. There was no humorous twinkle in those blue eyes.
"Lord Voldemort has set on us a most dangerous weapon," he stated. "I was hoping Severus would be able to explain this to you all," he glanced at the sleeping wizard, curled under several blankets, "but it doesn't look like he'll be waking anytime soon."
Dumbledore related the background on Algie's rings to the assembled staff and Healer. He had Lupin describe how he found his particular ring and the effects it had on him until Snape had performed the counter-curse. The golden circlet was levitated around the table so all could have a good look.
"I haven't seen any, Headmaster," Hagrid said as he peered at the trinket. It would just fit into the palm of his hand whereas it would make a bracelet for McGonagall or Sprout.
"You'd be the most likely one to find the rings, Hagrid. You're in and out of the forest all the time," Lupin remarked.
"That may be true, but if these are attached to rabbits or other animals," Sprout interjected, " then they'd most likely be found out on the fields or by the lake. The dying animals would come down for a drink," she hypothesized.
"I did find this rabbit near a streamlet," Lupin reported.
Movement on the couch caught his attention; Flitwick followed his gaze. Snape was waking, seeming to be fighting against something.
"Professor Snape," Flitwick began but before he continued both Barnes and Dumbledore were up, going to the couch. The others moved around a bit so they could seT what would happen.
"He really shouldn't be waking yet, Albus," Barnes said as he sat by his patient beginning to scan his vitals.
"Could it be a nightmare?" Dumbledore asked, quelling his desire to reach out to soothe the unsettled man.
"It could, but he seems to be in pain," Barnes ran hands over his patient's torso searching for the problem, finally slipping over his arms. He stopped, then pulled out the left arm.
"Albus?" the Potions Master's soft voice called. Eyes slowly opened, still exhausted.
"Hullo Severus," Dumbledore reached over and cupped his face, drawing his eyes to him. The wizard grimaced through a spasm, then tried to move his left arm to the Headmaster.
The mark was once more dark and angry. As the older man covered it with his hand and performed the terminus curse he wondered how long Voldemort would keep calling. Snape visibly relaxed as the pain eased off.
"Thank you, Albus," he sighed in relief. He continued to look at the Headmaster who in turn softly comforted him.
The 'audience' was surprised at this side of the Potions Master. They all knew Snape had been a death eater. With the exception of Lupin and Barnes all had been at the school during the first uprising and fall of the Dark Lord. All also knew he'd been a spy. But only Lupin and Barnes had known he'd been back to the evil creature this summer and school term.
Now all knew Snape was being called; they'd seen the dark, burning mark. Each had questions, but wisely stayed quiet. It had not occurred to most of them Voldemort would call for Snape since he'd come back into a body.
"Severus, are you well enough to talk? We need to know
how to protect ourselves from those rings," Dumbledore asked as he continued to run a long finger up and down Snape's cheek. Drowsy eyes regarded the older man.
"Help me sit up?" Snape asked and soon felt warm covers pulled away as his body moved upright. He shivered. The cold would keep him awake long enough to answer the Headmaster's questions.
"Come to the table, Severus. Have some tea with us," Barnes encouraged him to stand and between the two wizards Snape moved towards the table. With a confused expression he looked at the other people already seated.
"I called the key staff together to warn them of the rings, Severus," Dumbledore said quietly as he passed his own cup of warm tea to the Potions Master. Snape used two hands to raise the liquid to his lips; he trembled too much for one.
"What do you need to know," he asked softly. Barnes took his tea cup and poured something out of a small vial into it before adding a little more tea and sugar. Without so much as a questioning glance Snape took the cup and took a long pull.
"How can we move the rings, Sev?" asked Hagrid, "without gettin' sick ourselves?"
"You'll need thick leather or dragon hide gloves and bags. The ring has to make skin contact," Snape took another long sip of tea, "but it can also work through thinner clothes or loose weave. Barnes added more tea to the cup, then added cream. This gained him a glance. Barnes shrugged.
"You can levitate them, although it's hard not to grab one if it starts to fall," the Potions Master commented, then yawned, apologizing. "Plus, it might not be a circlet. It could be a chain or token. Just has to be gold," he yawned again.
"Do you know of any charms to remove the curse?" Flitwick asked.
"No, I wasn't around when Flynn developed the curse; I just helped test it on different objects. He could only get the curses to stick on pure gold. A rather expensive attack. But something Voldemort took a fancy to. It had just been released in one small town as a test," Snape reported, eyes starting to close.
"I can teach you the counter-curse," yawning, eyes slipped closed as he started to lean back into his chair. Barnes waved his wand, reclining the chair slightly.
"Oops, sorry. Potion worked a little quicker than I anticipated," the Healer admitted, levitating some of the blankets from the couch to cover the now dozing man.
"What happened to him, Albus?" McGonagall finally asked.
"Suffice to say the counter-curse requires a lot of energy," Barnes said. "He threw the curse off of Remus around 11:30 this morning. It completely drained him."
"I certainly felt, and still feel, completely invigorated," Lupin reported.
"It sounds as if this Flynn wanted to be sure the healer would not be able to help more than one person at a time," McGonagall remarked.
This was an unsettling observation.
"Do ya want me to organize a search, Albus?" Hagrid asked.
"I think you should just be more aware while you're out and about, Hagrid. We all need to be on the lookout for any unusual trinkets lying around. Or for any sick or dead animals," the Headmaster said.
"I see quite a few small animals out and in by the green houses," Sprout said, "but none that appear ill. I'll set out some pans of water and see what comes up."
"What about the students and the rest of the staff?" Flitwick asked.
"You need to make a general announcement at dinner tonight, Albus. Then go into some detail at a more formal staff meeting. Get people watching out for the problem."
"I agree with Frederick," McGonagall put in. "I think the students need to know what to watch out for. Hopefully no one has picked up anything besides Remus."
Dumbledore agreed and together they decided how much to tell the students and staff. The house elves were to be told. Dr. Barnes would bring the message back to Hogsmeade and spread it among the wizarding community there. Finally, an owl would be sent to the Ministry regarding the deadly objects. With decisions made, most of the staff left.
After she stood up, McGonagall stopped by Snape's chair. She gently pushed hair from his mouth.
"Sorry, Severus," she whispered, cupping the sleeping face. Turning, she left with Filch.
Lupin hung back, helping Barnes move the sleeping man back to the couch. Blankets were tucked in and lightly warmed. When everyone else save Barnes had left, Lupin turned to Dumbledore.
"You know, Albus, we could really use some help guarding the school," Lupin said.
"Yes, we do," the Headmaster agreed. "I take it you have a suggestion?"
"Yes. Sirius Black," Lupin stated. "He could easily patrol the forest aïnd fields in his animagus form. He could stay with me in my rooms at night."
"Pass him off as a pet of yours?" Barnes asked, his face completely passive as he fussed over his sleeping patient.
"I could say I use him to hunt for certain creatures to use for my classes, yes. That would be a good cover story. He could have run of the place," Lupin suggested.
Dumbledore considered the suggestion. "It would be good to have another set of eyes devoted to this problem and to watch the school grounds," he allowed. "Plus, you'd have your best friend here," the Headmaster teased.
"Never crossed my mind," Lupin grinned.
"I've missed Sirius. All those years I could not believe he'd had anything to do with the Potters' death even though the evidence was so overwhelming against him," Dumbledore mused. "It would be good to have him around. A little like old times, eh?"
Lupin smiled happily, "Yes, like old times."
Barnes looked from wizard to wizard. He'd heard a lot about the 'old times' from Snape. He'd also heard about the 'old times' from Dumbledore, too. The Healer knew it would be prudent to have the animagus here, protecting the school. But would it be good for Snape? Gently he stroked hair back and looked at the face slack in sleep.
Somehow Barnes didn't think so.
Dumbledore and Lupin had continued their happy conversation. Lupin was going to go prepare a note to send by owl to Black. The Healer watched the DADA professor leave the rooms for his office. He glanced up at Dumbledore.
"Black. Here. You're sure about this?" Barnes asked as unemotionally as possible.
"I trust Black," the Headmaster said simply.
"It's not a matter of trust, Albus. I meant more along the lines of Severus's reaction. He's still fragile, no matter show much progress he seems to have made. You'll have to keep Black under control, away from him as much as possible. Remember what I said about being there for Severus? I don't know how well he'll take to Black coming here especially if you make a fuss of it," Barnes would have continued, but decided against it. Dumbledore was wearing his 'patient' expression. Meaning, at least to Barnes, he wasn't entertaining any of Barnes' objections.
"Now, Jeffrey, everything will be fine. Severus will be down in his dungeons and Black will be out in the fields. They will not cross paths!" Dumbledore assured him.
"And Severus will have priority in access to you?" the Healer asked pointedly.
"Of course," the Headmaster assured with a warm smile.
Barnes half-heartedly returned the smile and returned to checking his patient's vital signs.
He was not assured.
