Severus Snape: The Half Blood Prince

*(26) Healing Takes Time

They would make their way to Pomfrey, seeking solace in her care, and inform Dumbledore of the harrowing events that unfolded in the depths of the creaking shack.

The blood on her wounds had hardened, forming scab-like formations, creating a mosaic of pain on her skin. Each scab was a testament to the violence she had endured, a brutal tapestry of suffering etched across her body. Cradled in Severus's arms, she felt fragile, like a dove with an injured wing, yet a sense of comfort enveloped her. Despite the shock gripping her body, causing tremors to course through her, being held by her beloved offered solace and a glimmer of safety.

Bursting into the castle, Severus raced through the dimly lit corridors, his swift movements aimed at shielding her from further pain. The halls teemed with older students, their eyes wandering, their expressions vacant, evidence of their exhaustion after the second round of classes following dinner.

"Make way! Move!" Severus repeated, his urgent voice slicing through the air as he skillfully maneuvered through the crowded hallways, determined to reach the haven of Madam Pomfrey's care.

Just as he was about to miss a turn, Sophie's weak voice broke the silence, uttering a single word, "There."

Her words hung in the air before she succumbed to unconsciousness, a victim of blood loss and trauma. Her last memory of that day would forever be etched in her mind—Severus gently placing her on a metallic bed, his touch a soothing balm, a gesture of tenderness amidst the chaos.

Severus carefully laid her down on the sterile surface, his fingertips brushing against her unmarred cheek as if seeking solace in the touch. Sophie's pain-induced shock had consumed her, and she drifted further into the realm of unconsciousness. A whimper threatened to escape him, but he quickly turned his attention to Pomfrey's desk, searching for healing draughts or any form of aid. The desk bore bells, each with a nameplate underneath—bells that signaled the presence of every teacher in the school, including the headmaster's office.

Yanking on the string, Severus activated the bells, summoning Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Slughorn. The reverberating chimes filled the air, transmitting their vibrations through the strings to alert the specified teachers, their discordant harmony a testament to the urgency of the situation.

At that moment, Pomfrey entered, holding vials containing a peculiar blue and purple liquid. As her gaze fell upon Sophie lying on the bed, she nearly dropped the vials in her arms, exclaiming, "Oh my goodness!" Hastily setting the vials on her desk and adjusting her red robe to avoid snagging it on the corner, Pomfrey shifted her focus to Severus. "Severus, fetch me the wound-cleaning potions in the cupboard. Hurry!" she commanded, rolling up her sleeves, the urgency in her voice matching the severity of the situation. "Explain precisely what happened, so I know which remedies to employ."

Severus swiftly retrieved the potions and handed them to Pomfrey, then proceeded to recount the harrowing events. Each word carried the weight of his concern, his voice tinged with a mixture of anger and fear. "It was Remus Lupin during the full moon, ma'am. He attacked her in the Shrieking Shack."

"Enough said. She's fortunate she wasn't bitten or drooled on; otherwise, we'd be dealing with another werewolf on campus," Pomfrey remarked as she dripped the potions onto Sophie's face, neck, knee, and ankles. The liquid bubbled and quickly turned to smoke, the pungent aroma filling the air. Sophie's face contorted in a grimace of pain as it was applied, her body instinctively reacting to the healing properties of the potions.

"Purus Reparifors," Pomfrey incanted, waving her wand over the injuries. Severus watched with hope and anxiety as the bloodied cuts and indentations transformed into fragile-shaped scars, still in the process of healing. The scars were a testament to her resilience, a reminder of the fierce battle she had fought. "That should mend everything physically. We'll need to assess her mental state once she awakens. For now, let her rest... I see you've already summoned the headmaster and a few professors, and here they come." Pomfrey spoke, making her way to the exit to wash her blood-stained hands. Severus turned to see Dumbledore entering, followed by Minerva and Horace.