Chapter 59 : I solemnly swear I am up to no-good!
"Healer Treiber?"
"Yes?" Katie Treiber looked up from a patient chart to see a tall Wizard standing in the door to her office. "May I help you?" She closed the file and put it on the top of a pile of similar charts.
"Myself, no, but your assistance and expertise is needed most urgently, if you'd come with me please?"
"Certainly, which room are we . . ?" Katie started to ask.
"The Wizard needing your help is not here at St. Mungo's . . . it's a bit of an emergency, you see," Rabastan started to explain.
"You should be talking to someone in the Emergency Room, then Mister . . . ?"
"Lestrange . . . Rabastan Lestrange at your service," the Wizard answered, with a slight bow. "And you were asked for, specifically, by name. Time is of the essence. . . so, if you could gather whatever you might need . . . there seems to be some blood loss and . . . "
"Who is hurt?" Healer Treiber stood up, her training overruling her sense of danger; she already knew the answer, having recognized the Wizard standing before her.
"Headmaster Snape," was the terse reply.
"Don't tell me those two idiots . . "
"No, it wasn't the Carrows," Rabastan assured her, with a smirk.
Katie snorted, shook her head and walked over to a side table to pick up her bag.
"Severus Snape is a miserable excuse," she started, as she shouldered her bag and turned, before she finished her sentence. "of a patient, but I won't let that stop me from doing my duty." She looked up to see Rabastan smothering a smile. "Ah, I see you're acquainted with his sparkling personality!"
"Indeed. Well, shall we?"
"Of course," answered Katie.
As they proceeded down the hall they encountered Healer Artemus Pye.
"Something wrong, Katie?" Artemus asked, even as he eyed Rabastan.
"Little 'emergency' house call, Artemus, and as I just got off duty, the timing is perfect . . . I shouldn't be long . . . see you tomorrow," she replied, as they passed, but looking over her shoulder to wave, she flicked her finger on her nose and winked. Artemus nodded.
"See you tomorrow, then," he called, then hurried to his office to send an owl winging north.
X X X
Rabastan and Katie arrived at the gates of Malfoy Manor and taking her elbow, he walked her quickly down the walkway and into the imposing house.
"This place could use a good Spring cleaning," Katie muttered, as she glanced around.
"Indeed, but the owners are away, so we make do. In here, Healer Treiber."
Katie stepped through the door opened for her by Rabastan and saw Severus laid out on a sofa, robes shredded and blood dripping onto the floor from a gash in his arm, which was hanging over the side.
" 'Some blood loss'? You, sir, are a master of the understatement," Katie said, as she strode quickly across the room, 'Accioing' a chair over next to her, on which she set her bag. Taking her wand, she ran a quick diagnostic over Severus. Keeping her head lowered, she became aware of other people entering the room. "Someone has done some preliminary healing of these wounds . . . quite good work, I must say."
Katie saw, out of the corner of her eye, a pair of black boots and the bottom of a tattered skirt stop next to the end of the sofa. Looking up, she recognized Bella Lestrange, who grimaced at her, which, Katie realized, was as close to a smile as Bella could manage .
"Your work . . . Madam Lestrange?"
"Yes, I did what I could," came the reply.
"Excellent job . . . most people cringe at the sight of blood," nodded Katie, returning her attention to her patient.
"Ah, well, our Bella is made of stronger stuff," came another, silky voice. A shiver ran down Katie's spine as she realized Voldemort was standing right behind her.
"Does anyone know what spells caused all of this damage? These cuts are quite deep and he also has a slight concussion."
Healer Treiber was feeling Severus' skull and pulled her hand back, holding a sliver of glass in her fingers.
"What the bloody hell happened?!" she exclaimed.
"It seems Headmaster Snape was involved in a duel, in the Great Hall at Hogwarts, with Harry Potter. He managed to escape through a partially broken window."
"Sweet Mary, Mother of Pearl, you mean the window behind the staff table?" Katie asked, as she turned around, coming face to face with Voldemort.
"The same." Voldemort smiled at her. "Where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself . . . I am Lord Voldemort. You've met Rabastan Lestrange and I noticed you recognized his sister-in-law, Bella. This is her husband, Rudolphus and standing by the door is Walden McNair."
Katie nodded to each and then looked at her 'host'. "Where are the Carrows? Do they know what happened to Professor Snape?"
"Unfortunately, no. They 'Apparated' out of the Hall first and Severus followed, arriving in this condition. However, I do know the spell that was used on him by Potter . . . 'Sectumsempra'. The concussion was, obviously, from his exit through the window."
"I agree about the bang on his head, but I've never heard of that spell." She turned back to look at Severus' arm, shaking her head. "These gashes are going to leave some nasty scars if I don't get started soon. Is there a bed, preferably a cot, where Headmaster Snape could be moved, so I can begin healing him?"
"Of course . . . perhaps Draco's room. Bella, go and prepare the bed while we move Severus, won't you?" Voldemort asked, turning to look at his 'favorite', who nodded and hurried from the room.
Katie took a step back, bumping into the Dark Lord, as she prepared to put Severus on a stretcher.
"Oh! I'm so sorry. Occupational hazard . . . I tend to ignore everyone in the room but my patient."
"Quite alright, my dear, I was hovering," replied Voldemort. "Severus is one of my oldest . . . acquaintances and I'm, naturally, worried about him."
"Well . . . 'Levicorpus' . . . of course you are," Katie answered, as she lifted Severus from the sofa onto the stretcher she had formed and turned to guide her patient out the door. "I'm assuming that the Headmaster reported that I was a competent Healer, if you called for me, specifically, Lord Voldemort. Oh, could you grab my bag, please?" she added, smiling at him.
"Of course, and to answer your question, Severus said you were a hard task master about his rehabilitation, but an excellent Healer."
"He spoke the truth . . . I made him work very hard and he loathed my methods, but we tolerated each other well enough to set him straight. It doesn't surprise me, however, to see him laid out again . . . only this time, he will be reminded of today, every time he sees the scars that these wounds are going to leave. I'll do my best to make the scaring minimal, but I can't know how much damage this spell has done until I get him disrobed and get a better look."
"Do your best, Healer Treiber, that's all we ask of you." Voldemort replied, as they made their way up the stairs. "Would you mind if I ask a personal question?"
"Depends on the question," Katie replied tartly.
"Why aren't you surprised to see me? You must know that your life is in danger, now that you know where you are and who is here?" Voldemort stopped at the top of the stairs and waited for her answer.
Katie halted the stretcher and turned to face the Dark Lord. "I know Professor Snape is a Death Eater. This isn't Hogwarts and you've said he's to be put in Draco's bedroom. It wasn't too hard to figure out I'm at Malfoy Manor and that this is where you have been staying. Frankly . . . I don't care. I'm a Healer, I have a patient to care for . . . politics be damned . . . I lost my husband last year . . . he was doing what he thought best and it cost him his life . . . now I have a job to do and I'm going to do it . . . politics are not part of my life . . . I'm here in my capacity as a Healer and I intend to do my best for Professor Snape . . . I would go to any Witch or Wizard who needed me; I check wounds first, ask questions later . . . if that's alright with you, Lord Voldemort?"
The Dark Lord stood there looking at this defiant young woman standing before him and then he nodded. "Truthful and splendid answer. . . . Now I know why Severus begrudgingly admitted to admiring your aptitude as a Healer and your stubbornness in making him obey your orders about his treatment; he is notoriously hard to impress."
"I think I'll take that as a compliment . . . makes up for all the guff he gave me!" Katie started floating Severus along the upper corridor.
"Let us get your patient settled and you may begin your care of him," he intoned, as he used his wand to open a door in the middle of the hall, on the left. "Right through here, Healer Treiber."
As Katie maneuvered the stretcher through the door and over to the bed, Voldemort handed her bag to Bella and indicated she should put it on the night stand. Bella took it and set it down, then shuffled out of the way.
"If you'll excuse me, now, Lord Voldemort, I'll get started. Although, if Madam Lestrange would like to stay, I could show her a few things about wound care she might find useful in the future."
"Yes, that might prove helpful, don't you agree, Bella?" Voldemort asked.
"Yes, Ma . . my Lord," answered Bella, moving to stand on the other side of the bed, but not looking very enthusiastic about it.
"Let me know when your patient is awake, won't you. I need to hear his side of the story." The Dark Lord said over his shoulder, as he headed toward the door.
"Of course, but only for a few minutes, then later, you can chat for a few minutes more and that is a hard and fast rule, no exceptions," replied Katie, even as she pushed up her sleeves and took a look at Severus' arm. She didn't see the look of anger at her 'cheeky' reply that Voldemort sent her way, but Bella did and ducked her head to hide her smirk.
X X X
The Lestrange brothers were waiting at the base of the stairs. They fell into step behind the Dark Lord, who stopped and turned to face them.
"I think we will make use of Healer Treiber. She doesn't care about who her patients are, just that they need her help, so we will have her help us, if needed," Voldemort informed them. "I rather enjoyed playing genial host and I'm impressed that she showed no signs of panic or fear when she realized where she was and who was here. That is a brave Witch, who will make an excellent addition to our ranks." He turned and continued, a satisfied smirk on his face. Rudolphus and Rabastan exchanged looks and followed.
As Voldemort re-entered the dining room downstairs, the Carrows were waiting, knowing they'd be questioned, now, in depth as to what happened in the Great Hall. There was no doubt, in their minds, that their answers might be the difference between being spared or killed, as, once again, they had lost to Harry Potter.
When the Dark Lord was settled in his chair, he motioned them to come forward.
"Alecto, look at me!" he ordered.
"Yes, Ma . . . " she started to reply, before Voldemort entered her mind with such force that she nearly toppled over backward.
From her viewpoint, Voldemort saw Severus stand and make his announcement, then the doors swinging open and Potter and his two cronies sauntering in . . . mouthing off, Severus walking around the table, Alecto moving to follow and stand at Severus' side, then spinning to see Minerva McGonagall pointing her wand . . . wait . . . what did Potter have hanging from his neck . . . Voldemort refocused on the young Wizard . . . No! it couldn't be! . . . the Locket . . . .then he noticed the Ravenclaw Diadem in the Mudblood's hair and the blood traitor Weasley had . . . that wasn't possible . . .
"Noooo!" Voldemort roared, as he broke the connection with Alecto and she collapsed onto the floor. Amycus gasped, fell to his knees to gather his sister in his arms, but then made the mistake of looking up at the Dark Lord. His mind was invaded with even more force, as Voldemort double checked what he'd seen, then he broke the connection, leaving Amycus draped over Alecto's body. Voldemort stalked over to the door, blasting it open, almost off its hinges.
"BELLA!" his voice shaking the pictures on the wall.
X X X
"I'll levitate Professor Snape if you wouldn't mind getting his coat and shirt off, Madam Lestrange?" Katie waved her wand and Severus' form lifted up from the bed. "Oh, dear, he bleeding from his back, too! Damn, we'll have to turn him over and work on that one first."
Bella had already gotten Severus' robes and coat off and was starting on the buttons on his shirt, when she heard Katie giggle. She looked up and glared at the Healer, who waved a hand to show she meant no harm.
"I'm sorry, that's my fault and you just did exactly what I did the first time I had an emergency to deal with . . . his clothes are ruined, you can rip them off!" Katie grinned, pointing to the tears and blood stains on the cloth.
"Oh," Bella blushed. "I guess that was fairly foolish of me." She tore the shirt mostly off and got the sleeves removed in just a few moments.
Slowly rotating Severus, Katie laid him back down on the bed on his stomach and bent over the take a good look at the long slash running from his right shoulder to his belt, which had been neatly sliced, saving him from any more damage.
"Okay, first we need to clean off all of this old, dried blood and try to see how deep this cut really goes; has it gone through the muscle or hit his spine," Katie informed Bella, who nodded her head.
"Do you need water and towels. We don't have a House Elf here . . " Bella admitted.
"No, I have a cleansing potion in my bag, large bluish bottle on the right," Katie pointed to her bag. "And could you grab the 'Essence of Dittany', it's the fat round bottle all the way to the left."
Bella nodded and dug into the bag, realizing immediately that it had a 'Undetectable Extension Charm' applied and was a veritable apothecary and supply bag. She found both bottles and brought them over to the bed.
"Thank you! Now, let's see how bad this really is . . . "
"BELLA!" Voldemort's voice echoed down the hall way. Bella's eyes flew open and she ran to the door and tore off down the corridor towards the stairs. Hurrying down as quickly as she could, she fell to the floor at Voldemort's feet.
"Have you or Rudolphus been to your vault lately?" the Dark Lord hissed.
Bella was taken completely by surprise by this question, so she raised her face to his. "Master?"
But Voldemort took that opportunity to check in her mind as to what had transpired each time she had visited the vault; retrieving sacks full of Galleons, trying on some of her jewelry, gazing around at all of the wealth the Lestrange family had accumulated over the centuries. And looking up at the Hufflepuff cup, sitting high on the shelf at the back of the room . . . but wait, it wasn't sitting in exactly the same spot . . . it was turned slightly and seemed a little further back from the edge . . . or was it just that Bella was standing in a different place the last time she went down there.
Bella gasped as Voldemort removed himself from her mind.
"You and Rudolphus will go to Gringott's, immediately and bring me the Cup and that Sword . . . now GO!"
"Yes, Master," Bella replied, as Rudolphus helped her stand and the two of them hurried through the front door.
"You two, come with me. I don't want any trouble from the Healer," Voldemort snarled at Rabastan and McNair as he headed up the stairs.
X X X
As soon as Bella left, Katie dropped to her knees. "Severus!" She pushed his hair off of his face. One eye opened slowly and then as he focused he tried to speak, but Katie put a finger to his lips. "No! Listen to me . . . we're in deep trouble . . . Voldemort just yelled for Bella, so I know something's gone wrong. I'm here to heal you, I came willingly and have not had any trouble, so far . . . but I've only been here fifteen or twenty minutes. You must pretend to be unconscious so we can buy some time and find out what's happening . . . do you understand?"
Severus nodded. His head hurt, but it was tolerable. The cuts were stinging abominably, but he knew Katie could stop that. He only knew he had to tell her about the escape, so he whispered.
"What? I didn't hear you." Katie lowered her head and concentrated.
"Dobby . . .can get us out . . . just call him."
"Dobby?" Katie straightened up. "He can come in here without being caught?"
Severus nodded slightly and winced.
"Okay. I'll get started on your healing. Have to stick to my work and act totally unaware that anything is amiss." Katie lifted the blue bottle and uncorked it. "This is a bit cold. . . if you weren't already awake, this would do the job!"
Using her wand she directed the stream of blue potion over Severus' skin, he drew in a quick breath and then closed his eyes, while it bubbled the dried and semi-congealed blood and then Katie vanished it.
"Not as bad as it looked with all the blood. Now the 'Dittany' . . . this might sting a bit."
Severus knew very well what "sting" meant, so he turned his head and buried his face in the pillow, where his bellows of pain were effectively smothered. Katie smiled, shaking her head as she continued along the length of the cut. The edges came together, and the bleeding stopped. She applied a medicated bandage to the length of the wound and then rotated Severus onto his back so she could work on his chest and arm.
Severus looked up at her and she smiled at him.
"What's a good looking guy like you doing in a dump like this?" she asked, as she bent over and kissed him.
"I was about to ask you what you were doing hanging out with this crowd," he replied, smiling, but then he got deadly serious. "How did you get here?"
"Invited by Rabastan Lestrange, knew it had to involve you, so I came, strictly as a Healer and then, well, did you hear him yell for Bella?"
"I believe he's seen the Carrows recollections of the events at the school, so I'll be next to be interrogated . . . but I'm ready and I want you to stay out of the way. He doesn't care if you are here of your own volition, be quiet and let me deal with him."
"Why don't we call Dobby and get out of here?"
"We need to stall him, to give those defending Hogwarts time to get ready. You must trust me on this . . . we've spent months, years getting ready for this day and I must see my part through. I'm just sorry you're caught in the middle."
"As long as I'm standing next to you . . . in the middle . . . I'll be fine."
She bent over and they kissed.
"If anything goes wrong, call Dobby and have him take you to safety. . . promise me . . . "
"Severus," Katie started to protest, but then they heard people coming up the stairs.
"Promise me!" Severus grabbed her hand.
"Alright! Now I'm going to knock you out!"
And before he could protest, she swirled her wand, his eyes closed and then she grabbed the blue bottle and started working on the wound that crossed his chest.
The door of the room flew open and Katie jumped as if startled, spinning around to see Voldemort as she always envisioned him . . . beyond scary; red eyes blazing, wand grasped so tightly she thought it might snap, robes flowing and immense power radiating off of him.
"Has he regained consciousness?" he hissed.
"I haven't tried to wake him, as this treatment is painful and I thought I'd spare him the discomfort."
"Wake him . . .now!" Voldemort ordered.
Katie started to open her mouth to protest, then thought better of it, shrugged and turned to the bed.
" 'Re-enervate.' "
Severus eyes fluttered and he gazed around, apparently trying to get his bearings, then he saw Katie standing over him.
"Healer Treiber?" he croaked.
"Yes, you're safe and I'm here to . . . "
But she suddenly disappeared from his field of vision to be replaced by the Dark Lord, who bent over him and immediately invaded his brain. Severus let the pain of his injuries and his concussion cloud his thoughts, but then he let Voldemort see the whole scene as it played out in the Great Hall. The arrival of the Trio, and the group of defenders who had come with them, then the duel, the window shattering, ordering the Carrows to leave, being hit with the 'Sectumsempra', 'Apparating' to Malfoy Manor and then losing consciousness.
The only new bit of new information Voldemort gleaned from Severus' memory was who had showed up in support of Potter and the fact that the Malfoys were among them.
Katie had been shoved aside and would have fallen if not caught by Rabastan, who hissed in her ear to stand still and keep quiet if she wanted to survive the day. She calmed down and nodded, so he released her arms and stood back a step, then tugged on her elbow, urging her to do the same. Thinking that wasn't such a bad idea, she moved back to stand at his side. She was mildly surprised to realize she hadn't dropped the bottle of 'Cleansing Potion', but she did notice her hands were shaking a bit.
Voldemort straightened up, looking down at Severus and then turned and stalked out of the room, Rabastan and McNair following. Katie closed the door, then hurried over and started working on Severus, knowing time was of the essence.
"I've got to get you healed as quickly as I can. Oh, what is wrong with me?" She set the bottle down on the bed and hurried over to her bag, where she located and returned with a bottle of 'Strengthening Potion' and one of 'Blood Replenishing Potion'. "Down the hatch, Professor!"
"Yes, dear," replied Severus cheekily, as he tipped a bottle and chugged. He shuddered and then poured the second bottle's contents down his throat. "Those were ghastly!"
"Old Muggle saying; 'Doesn't have to taste good to be good for you'." She put both bottles back in her bag and then started working on his arm. "What did he see in your memories?"
"He knows who is there, including the Malfoys and when he does some thinking, he'll know that the Hufflepuff Cup has been stolen and/or destroyed and the Gryffindor Sword also possibly stolen from Bella's vault, until he has that checked, then he'll know I did the switch . . . maybe . . . I can explain the Sword, but the cup will be the sticking point.
"Maybe you should cut your losses and get us the hell out of here, as soon as possible," Katie offered, eyebrow raised. "You're needed at Hogwarts, Severus, not here . . . he's libel to turn on you any moment. Please, let's just call Dobby and get out alive."
She'd finished bandaging his arm and helped him sit up carefully, so she could examine his head. With a swish of her wand, she closed the small cuts caused by the glass from the window and then turned to pick up his discarded clothes.
Severus sat in silence, thinking over his . . . their options. As much as he wanted to stay and play his part, he knew once Voldemort was sure the Cup had been destroyed, his life was truly in jeopardy, not to mention Katie's. And he was certain that, even now, Voldemort was mentally calculating how many times he'd felt those attacks of weakness, against the number of Horcruxes he'd formed, and the ones he'd seen in Harry's possession.
That was when he would panic, that is when he would attack; knowing Harry had the last two, that is when he would want desperately to regain those two objects.
Katie had poured the last of the blue bottle over Severus' shirt and had repaired the rips and tears, so she silently handed it to him. He nodded and put it on, standing, swaying a bit, even as Katie grabbed his unhurt arm to steady him.
"Get your bag, Healer Treiber," Severus smiled at her. "It's time to pay Poppy a visit."
"What an excellent idea," she remarked, as she put all of her supplies safely away and closed the clasp. "If we hurry, I might be able to grab a bite to eat; missed breakfast coming here, you realize!"
"Did you? Oh, well, then, there's nothing for it! Dobby!"
'Pop'
"Professor Snape, sir, Dobby is right here!" the House Elf declared. " Oh, hello, Healer Treiber! I is remembering you!"
"I remember you, too, Dobby and I'm very glad to see you!"
"Is you wanting to leave, Professor?"
"Yes, Dobby, it's not safe here for me any longer, or Healer Treiber"
"I is thinking the same, as Dobby has been listening to what the bad Wizard was saying."
"Good, we'll talk about that at Hogwarts, it might prove useful, Dobby," nodded Severus.
"Yes, Professor, but now you is to take Dobby's hand and we will go."
"Thank you, Dobby " Severus said, as he and Katie grasped the little creature's long, boney fingers.
'Pop'.