Shadow and Light {Severus Snape x OC}

Chapter 15 part 2

His disillusionment lasted only a fleeting moment. He had to act, and quickly. Alice was in critical condition, and every second counted.

First, he examined her most obvious injuries: the makeshift tourniquet tied around her arm was soaked with blood, utterly useless by now. Her entire arm had taken on a livid, almost cadaverous hue, the gaping wounds torn wide open. As he looked at the shredded flesh, Severus felt his stomach churn, but he forced down his revulsion. There was no room for weakness now.

Time was working against them, and he could tell Alice had already done everything in her power to treat herself before his arrival. But not a single drop of dittany remained in the school, not even in the infirmary. Dittany was their only hope to save her arm—and possibly her life—at this stage. Without wasting another moment, Severus slid his arms beneath her and lifted her, holding her unconscious body tightly against his chest. He had to get her outside, where he could Apparate and obtain what she so desperately needed.

The usual route would take too long, and the thought that each passing second could be her last spurred him to think quickly. He remembered one of the seldom-used secret passages in the dungeons: the Troubled Waters painting. It was a large canvas depicting the Black Lake, its dark waters seemingly frozen in a mysterious fog. Years ago, Severus had discovered that the painting concealed a passage once used regularly, though Filch had sealed it off with a heap of stones. He had never imagined the day would come when that hidden path might be vital, but now it was their only chance.

In one swift motion, Severus pressed his hand against the painting's surface, tracing circles on the depicted water. Ripples formed, the lake stirring as though a storm were brewing, and then the painted surface dissolved into a cascading waterfall, revealing a narrow, dark corridor. Without hesitation, Severus plunged into the passage, still clutching Alice tightly.

Ahead of him, a pile of rocks blocked the way, but he didn't falter. Drawing his wand, he bellowed a powerful "Bombarda!" The stones exploded into shards, clearing the path.

He knew the blast would draw attention, but it didn't matter. He raced through the dusty corridor, moving as quickly as possible, until finally, he emerged into the fresh air outside. Holding Alice even closer, Severus focused his thoughts on the best place to treat her. Grimmauld Place.

Last month, at Dumbledore's request, he had sent an emergency supply of potions there, including essence of dittany. It wasn't the most logical option—there were closer places—but it was fast, and something else had influenced his decision. What had happened to her? And, whatever it was, was it tied to the Order? To her past? He didn't want to bring further trouble to Alice, and so, seeking the safety of secrecy, he Disapparated without delay.
Molly had sent the younger ones to bed, a task that was never simple but was particularly arduous that evening, with excitement and endless questions swirling among them. In the dining room, Sirius and Remus sipped scalding cups of coffee. Remus, exhausted and guilt-ridden over the mistake he'd made earlier that day, had briefly considered drowning his remorse in alcohol. But he thought better of it, choosing instead to anchor himself with the warmth of the coffee in his hands.

A tense quiet settled over the house, broken only by the clinking of dishes as Molly tidied up, still simmering with anger. She seized every opportunity to shoot disapproving glares in Sirius's direction, glares that he avoided meeting entirely.

Sirius, attempting to mend the strained atmosphere, straightened in his seat. "Molly, I did it for Harry. She would probably never have told him if we hadn't forced the issue," he said, his tone almost defensive. "Right, Remus?"

Remus exhaled deeply, weary of the conflict. "Leave me out of it, Sirius. Please..." He had spent the evening trying to mediate and had no energy left for further disputes.