The door to the Headmaster's office burst open. Madam Pomfrey rushed in like a gust of wind, her nurse's cap tilted askew and a bulging medical bag clutched in her hand.
Behind her came Professor Slughorn, puffing heavily, his round face flushed red, while Professor Flitwick nimbly leapt onto the nearest chair to get a better view.
"Heavens!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed when she saw Dumbledore lying pale upon the bed.
She immediately bent over him, her wand tracing complex diagnostic runes across his body.
Professor Slughorn crowded closer, his ample belly nearly brushing against her shoulder.
"Let me see, let me see..." he muttered, rummaging through his waistcoat pocket and pulling out a small crystal vial filled with a shimmering purple liquid.
Just as he was about to drip the potion into Dumbledore's mouth, Snape spoke sharply. "Professor, what is that?"
"Oh, this? My own special Vitality Elixir," Slughorn replied without looking up. "It can temporarily enhance a patient's life force."
"Using a stimulant without confirming the cause of the condition may not be wise," Snape said coolly.
"Ah." Slughorn froze mid-motion, then turned his head. "Yes, yes, quite right. My apologies, I overlooked that." His moustache twitched as he withdrew the vial. "Severus, come have a look with me."
Snape stepped closer to the bed and studied Dumbledore's face intently. The once-lustrous silver beard had lost its sheen. Beneath his pale skin, faint bluish-gray streaks spread like veins of poison creeping through his body.
"I suspect it's related to Inferi." Snape said quietly.
"What?" Madam Pomfrey looked up sharply.
"The place we went should theoretically have been filled with Inferi," Snape explained, pointing to the dark patches now forming on the back of Dumbledore's hand. "These symptoms remind me of what's described in The Most Poisonous Magicks, the 'Curse of the Inferus,' a dark spell wrought by a wizard through acts of mass murder and agony."
"You've read that book?" Professor Flitwick gasped. "You mean, You-Know-Who used the method of creating Inferi to curse Albus?"
"Not exactly," Snape shook his head. "But I suspect it operates on a similar principle. The curse described in the text slowly devours the victim's life force, transforming it into a state suspended between life and death."
The tip of Madam Pomfrey's wand sparked with a burst of red light. "He's right. The Headmaster's life energy is being eroded by some dark force."
"If that's the case..." Slughorn's face grew grave. "Conventional treatment will be of little use. Unless..."
"Unless what, Horace?" asked McGonagall.
"Unless we use unicorn's blood," Slughorn said reluctantly, "or certain other potions, perhaps even darker."
A deathly silence fell over the office. The fire in the hearth crackled faintly, as though even it recoiled from the suggestion.
"Absolutely not!" Madam Pomfrey was the first to break the silence. "That would be barbaric beyond measure, to slaughter a pure, gentle, defenseless creature merely to preserve one's own life!"
"It wasn't a formal suggestion!" Slughorn muttered defensively. "I was only saying that it works..."
"The cost is far too great," Professor Flitwick exclaimed, leaping down from his chair and waving his small arms. "Everyone knows that from the moment unicorn's blood touches your lips, you are cursed forever!"
"Professor Flitwick is right," Snape said with a curt nod. "Even if the Headmaster awoke, it would be a half-life at best. We must find another way."
"If we can't use powerful elixirs," Slughorn sighed, "then we'll have to proceed slowly."
"Yes," Snape said, studying Dumbledore's calm face. "We can attempt to brew a series of compound potions, gradually decomposing the curse within him bit by bit. But it may take months, perhaps even a year."
"Perhaps we can start with a combination of rue essence, belladonna, and bezoar..."
As they discussed treatment options, a weak groan sounded from the small cot in the corner.
The Muggle father among the rescued pair was slowly regaining consciousness. When his eyes opened and he saw the stone walls, the whirring silver instruments, and the portraits dozing on the walls, his pupils dilated in fear. He clutched his child tightly.
"Don't be afraid," Madam Pomfrey said softly, stepping toward him. "You're safe now."
"Wh–where is this?" the man stammered, his eyes darting among the wizards. "Who are you people?"
"I'm Poppy Pomfrey, the school matron at Hogwarts," she replied gently. "This is a school. Can you tell us your name?"
"Wells. Byron Wells." His voice was hoarse. The boy in his arms stirred, blinking open his eyes.
"Dad?" the boy whispered weakly, then looked around in confusion. "Where's Mum?"
The room fell abruptly silent. Snape and McGonagall exchanged a troubled glance.
"I'm sorry," Snape said, stepping forward. "You and your son were the only survivors."
Tears welled instantly in the boy's eyes. His cry of "Mum!" tore through the air like a knife.
Madam Pomfrey quickly flicked her wand, and the boy went limp, falling asleep in his father's arms.
"What did you do to him?" Wells asked in alarm, clutching the child protectively.
"Only made him sleep," Madam Pomfrey explained. "It's better this way. Excessive distress will hinder his recovery."
Mr. Wells checked the boy's breathing. Finding it steady, he relaxed slightly. Then he looked up, fear and suspicion flickering in his eyes. "Who are you? And those people, the ones with masks, who were they?"
"Masked people?" Snape asked. "Can you describe what happened, Mr. Wells?"
"I was at home with my family..." Wells exhaled shakily. "All of a sudden, people dressed like you burst in, " he glanced nervously at Snape, ", except they wore horrible masks. Then we all blacked out. When we woke up, we were in that cave." His voice trembled. "We saw two people fighting..."
"Look closely," Snape said quickly, pointing to Dumbledore. "Was one of them him?"
"Yes." Wells examined the unconscious wizard and nodded. "The other..." He shuddered. "The other looked terrifying."
"Any distinctive features?" Snape pressed.
Wells thought for a moment. "He... he had no nose."
A good clue, Snape thought. He almost smiled but restrained the impulse.
McGonagall and Slughorn exchanged horrified glances. Flitwick let out a small squeak. "You-Know-Who!"
"You-Know-Who?" Wells repeated in confusion.
"Never mind that," Snape said curtly. "And then? What happened next?"
"We hid behind the rocks... couldn't see clearly," Wells said, wiping sweat from his brow. "There were flashes of light of every color... Then the noseless man left through a stone archway. Some others, people like us, tried to follow. But they screamed terribly as they passed through. We didn't dare move, so we stayed."
Snape rubbed his chin thoughtfully. It seemed Dumbledore hadn't gone there to hunt a Horcrux after all, but had followed the Death Eaters who were abducting Muggles, and thus found the cave. That explained the presence of the Muggles.
"And afterward?" McGonagall asked softly.
"We moved this man", Wells gestured at Dumbledore, "against a rock. But we had no food or water. I don't know how long we lasted before we blacked out again... and then woke up here."
"Thank you, Mr. Wells," McGonagall said. "You both need rest." She turned to Madam Pomfrey. "Poppy, please take them to the Hospital Wing. When they've recovered, we'll arrange to send them home."
Madam Pomfrey nodded. "Of course." Supporting the father and son, she led them out of the office.
Once the door closed, Slughorn collapsed into the nearest armchair, pulling out a lace handkerchief to dab at his sweaty forehead. "By Merlin... You-Know-Who personally kidnapping Muggles, that's most unusual."
"Albus must have tracked them," Flitwick squeaked. "I can't imagine what he discovered."
"We'll know only when he wakes," McGonagall said, exhaling slowly. She turned to Slughorn and Snape. "I'll leave further treatment in your hands."
"I'll assign the house-elf Koukou to care for Albus," she added wearily, rubbing her temples. "At least for now, we can postpone repairing the Founders' Ark."
"There's another matter we must address," Snape said. "We can't let the Dark Lord learn that Professor Dumbledore has lost his strength. If he does, Hogwarts will no longer be safe."
"What do you mean?" McGonagall frowned, then realization dawned. "Oh, of course. Albus has long been the main deterrent preventing You-Know-Who from acting openly. If he remains absent for too long..."
"He'll know something's wrong," Slughorn said gravely. "Then he'll attack without restraint." His face turned pale. "You're right, Severus. But what can we do?"
"The solution lies in your Potions classroom, Professor," Snape said. "We must create the illusion that Dumbledore is still active."
"Polyjuice Potion!" Slughorn's eyes lit up. "Of course! Someone can impersonate Albus!"
"And who would that be?" McGonagall glanced around the room. Her gaze settled on Snape. "Severus, perhaps you? We each have our duties."
"I don't particularly mind," Snape said with a shrug, feigning indifference. "Though if I were Dumbledore, I might take the opportunity to travel to Austria and seek an ally strong enough to counter the Dark Lord. When he wakes, I fear the first thing he'd do is hex me in fury."
Professor Slughorn let out a hearty chuckle, his round belly shaking.
"He's right, Minerva," he said. "Whoever it is, Severus is certainly not the best candidate."
"Then I'll do it," McGonagall said, smiling faintly despite her fatigue. "But..." She frowned with concern. "This disguise won't last long. I can't match Albus's power. If 'Dumbledore' doesn't appear on the front lines for too long, "
"It will still buy us time," Snape said swiftly. "Meanwhile, we must continue repairing that ship and prepare for evacuation as a contingency."
McGonagall was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. I'll trust you to organize the students, Severus." She paused, glancing at Slughorn. "Horace, will you be leaving Hogwarts with us? I was going to ask Pomona to stay, "
Before she could finish, Slughorn interrupted. "I'll be staying as well, Minerva."
"Are you certain, Professor?" Snape asked. "It'll be dangerous."
"Someone must remain to protect the students, even if the Death Eaters may not harm them," Slughorn said firmly. "Besides..." He hesitated. "I'm acquainted with most of them. That makes me the best suited."
Snape narrowed his eyes and silently mouthed the word Horcrux.
Slughorn's face turned pale, but he quickly regained composure. "Precisely why I should stay. Severus, I trust your skill in Potions is sufficient to tend to Albus."
"Professor," Snape said, studying the Slytherin Head's usually calculating face, "think carefully. Staying may be far more dangerous than leaving."
"A wandering life doesn't suit an old man like me," Slughorn said with a small smile, stroking his curled moustache. "And don't underestimate your Head of House, Severus. I've lived this long, it's time I showed some courage. Besides, after what I've done, there's no retreat left for me, is there?"
Tears shimmered in McGonagall's eyes.
"I'll stay with you, Horace," Flitwick piped up, climbing onto a chair to pat Slughorn's shoulder. "If those scoundrels dare cause trouble in my castle, I'll show them my dueling skills!"
"You'd be more useful going with them, Filius," Slughorn chuckled. "Your youthful temper will serve them better than me."
Just as they were about to leave the Headmaster's office, a large silver-white creature with horns squeezed through the wooden door, it was Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix, landing beside the bed and bowing its head over him.
Almost at the same moment, the door burst open once again.
A tall old man with wiry gray hair and beard, and eyes of the same piercing blue as Dumbledore's, strode inside.
Aberforth Dumbledore walked up to his brother, stood silently for a long moment, then sighed softly.
"My foolish brother.." he murmured.