Love Bites (REPOST)

Chapter 1 ~ A Trip to the Infirmary

Severus returned to his rooms, holding a handkerchief to his neck as he walked through them to his lab. Setting down his bag of harvesting supplies and short sword, he walked over to his potions cabinet, opened it and sifted through the bottles. Using one hand he retrieved an antiseptic and a healing potion. He carried the potions over to the counter, then walked over to a drawer and pulled out a small mirror and a few small clean cloths.

He returned to the counter, pulled up a stool and sat down. He removed the handkerchief from his neck and looked at it. The blood flow had slowed. Bats had enzymes in their saliva that kept the blood from clotting too quickly so they could drink from one bite rather than make several. Severus unbuttoned his robes and removed them. There was blood on the collar, and also on the collar of his white shirt. He removed that also, revealing his lean, muscular torso. The Potions Master picked up the mirror and craned his head back, trying to see where the creature had bit him.

There, right on the jugular vein, two small puncture wounds oozing blood. The flesh around them was tinged black and blue. Severus cursed. Just what he needed, a hickey from a blooming bat. Scowling, Severus put down the mirror, opened up the antiseptic, poured a bit on the clean cloth and wiped it over the bite, grimacing as it stung horribly. He picked up the mirror. The area around the bite had reddened. Now it was a large purplish mark. It really looked like a hickey now.

The wizard looked at the healing potion…he wasn't sure he should use it. Maybe he should see Poppy first and let her check the bite to see if the creature had infected him with something.

Severus would go see her. Right after he put the Agstani bloom up to dry.

The wizard walked over to the drawer again, searched through it and found a medi-patch, in other words, a magical band-aid. He walked back over to the counter, and using the mirror applied it to the oozing wound. A purplish corona radiated around the patch.

Fixed up for the moment, the Potions Master's eyes turned hungrily on his Harvesting bag. He strode over to it, unclasped it and removed the small clear baggie that held his treasure. The Pink Agstani Bloom.

He carefully cleaned the counter then cast several scourgify spells on it, laying the baggie down on it, then retrieving a thin metal hook, some string and a wooden board to work on, casting a purification spell on all the items, the baggie and his hands. He then shook the flower out on to the board and carefully pushed the hook through the bit of stem he left attached to it, then tied the string to the hook, making a little loop in the end. He raised the flower and looked it over, then walked to his drying cabinet and opened it.

A number of herbs hung from small hooks, drying. Severus pushed these aside and hung the flower in the very back of the cabinet, away from the other herbs. He closed the cabinet and warded it securely, before making it disappear from view entirely. He then applied a number of curses to the cabinet. Woe betide anyone who tried to get into it. The curses of Tut's tomb were nothing next to the horrible dark charms Severus placed on that cabinet. That flower was too valuable…anyone who tried to gain access would suffer terribly.

Satisfied, Severus put his Harvesting bag away, gathered up his bloody shirt and robes and exited the lab, locking and warding it securely. The Agstani Flower had made him a rich man now. He didn't have to work at Hogwarts any longer if he didn't want to. But he was so used to living in the castle and teaching. His lab was so familiar. He supposed he could recreate it in his new home. He had enough residuals coming in from original potions he had developed over the years to be well off, but now…now he would be a wizard of enormous wealth. When the flower dried, he would clip two petals for himself, and sell the remainder through his solicitor, Zaine Hucklesby, who was also a shrewd businessman. Zaine would go into conniptions when he found out what the Potions Master had acquired. His percentage of the sale would make him very wealthy as well.

Severus left his robes and shirt in a pile by his bedroom door so the house elves would retrieve and clean them. He walked into the bedroom, over to his wardrobe and slipped on another robe. He was going to the infirmary now.

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"Severus, that's quite a bite," Poppy exclaimed as she removed the bandage. The white-haired medi-witch put on her glasses and leaned close to the wizard, illuminating the wound with her wand. She grimaced a little as she did so. Her back wasn't what it used to be.

"I appear to be quite attractive to bats, Poppy. Might have something to do with being in the dungeons all the time," Severus quipped at her.

"Yes, I believe one of your pet names used by students is 'The Greasy Bat of the Dungeons,'" Poppy replied as she leaned his head over to the side and visually examined the puncture wounds a bit more.

"My, that is deep. Are you in pain?" she asked him, frowning.

"No. The bite didn't hurt at all…it was the impact that startled me. The bat was quite large and knocked me over. I tried to kill it, but it got away. I think there is a food shortage in the Forbidden Forest, and that the attack was because nothing else was easily available," the Potions Master said as Poppy drew out her wand and examined the wound magically. After a few minutes, she straightened.

"Well, as nasty as it looks, it appears to be a clean bite. I can detect no infections or evidence of disease. There is, however an apparent retardation of the healing process. I suspect that has to do with the saliva of the animal. It helps keep wounds open so they can drink. I could attempt to heal it magically but the enzymes would still be in your system. I think we should let it run its course first and work its way out, then heal it. It would require a wait of a day or two," the medi-witch said.

She smiled at him.

"Fifteen years ago I would have been testing you for vampirism," Poppy said, "but all the vampires were killed off during the Final Battle.

Severus frowned.

"Maybe you should test me anyway, Poppy. It was an abnormally large bat," he said thoughtfully.

Poppy tittered.

"Don't be ridiculous, Severus. You haven't been bitten by a vampire. If you had, you'd already be turning. It doesn't take long, believe me. The vampire enzyme works amazingly fast. In fact, my wand wouldn't have even reacted to you. Technically, you'd be the walking dead, and you are not dead, I assure you," she said patting him on the shoulder affectionately. "Now put on your robes. You may get teased a bit for the 'hickey' on your neck, but come back in two days and I will heal it."

Severus glowered at the thought of anyone 'teasing' him. He wished someone would tease him. He hadn't hexed anyone for weeks and his wand hand was getting itchy.

The dark wizard put on his robes, then turned to Poppy.

"I hear you are leaving us, Poppy," he said, frowning slightly.

Poppy nodded.

"Yes, Severus. I've been here for years and years. It's time to retire and get to know my great-grandchildren. I've purchased a house near my grandson and his wife. A nice little place near a lake. I'm looking forward to retirement. It's time to put the wand down," she said.

Severus looked at her, his black eyes glinting. He had known Poppy since he was a student at Hogwarts. The infirmary wouldn't be the same without her.

"First Albus, then Minerva, now you," he said. "Hogwarts just isn't the same anymore. The infirmary won't be the same without you."

Poppy took Severus' hand and patted it. She was probably the only person in the school who could touch him like this. Poppy had been there when he was in service to the Dark Lord, and saved his life many, many, many times, practically patching him back together piece by piece. And now, she was leaving.

"I know, Severus, but things change…life moves on and others step in to fill the spaces we leave behind. And the next person in line is a full Healer, with experience not only in magical healing, but muggle healing. She's a doctor in the muggle world, I think a 'hematologist' and has both Potions and Spellmaking degrees as well. She's also a graduate of Hogwarts to boot. So everyone will get excellent care," the medi-witch said comfortingly.

Severus looked at Poppy with dawning horror on his face as she described the replacement's qualifications. A Healer, Muggle Doctor, Potions and Spells Mistress? Only one person in the wizarding world could be that overachieving. The wizard felt a headache coming on.

He had to ask though he dreaded the answer.

"And what is the name of this wondrous replacement?" Severus asked Poppy, his head beginning to pound.

Poppy looked surprised.

"Oh Severus…I thought you knew. Hermione Granger, of course," she said smiling.

"Of course," he groaned.

"How about a little headache powder, Poppy?"

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A/N: And Hermione is IN there. Lol. Boy, I loaded her up with skills, talents and degrees this go round. But I think she's going to need all those skills to survive this story and help Severus survive it as well. Severus seems overjoyed she's coming to Hogwarts. Not. Well, Poppy didn't detect anything concerning the bite…so is that good? Or is that bad? Probably bad, especially since the wizarding world believes all the vampires to be dead. Apparently, they are very wrong about that. Anyway, please review.