Chapter 4 - Identity
Severus was curious this time. Disgusted still, of course, but also curious if he had really made progress. He, who was known for intimidating students and making first years cry.
Severus found himself in the guard room exactly when the contents of the bowl exploded from under the door and splashed the guards.
"Ungrateful bitch!" shouted an Auror, who had the slimy substance all over his face.
A guard who accompanied Snape flicked his wand and he Severus could hear a terrible shriek from the cell.
"What did you do?" asked Snape.
"Oh nothing much; just turned the fire extinguishing spell on. The thing has become insolent since you came here, and it stinks."
The screams turned into howling, like there was a lonely dog in there. Severus reached to his pocket and cast a silent warming charm on the lunchbox that rested in there.
"She's showing off," said the familiar, female Auror. "The water is off and we'll open the door for you."
The girl –Alicia, he corrected himself, –was sitting in her usual spot as he entered. He could feel the stench of her meal, which was still smeared on the door as the Aurors cleaned themselves first. It was something that was not edible, he thought. The cell itself wasn't stinking anymore.
The Aurors left and the door shut immediately behind them. The floor was wet as well as the girl, who was shaking badly. She was sitting with knees drawn up to her chest and the rag she was dressed in was almost transparent. He could see that her legs were bruised with purple imprints of large fingers.
Severus stopped wondering; he didn't want to think what might have caused that. She was back to staring at the floor, and was making small, whimpering noises.
Severus slowly sat on the wet floor and looked at the wall behind Alicia. Was it good idea to call her that name? Maybe he should refer to her as 'the girl', at least until she could tell him her name herself. He couldn't know what memories were behind the name given to her by her adoptive family. And Severus Snape didn't have a death wish.
He thought for a long while and made the decision.
"You must listen to me carefully," he started with a silky voice he used to gain the full attention of his students at Hogwarts. "I can't begin to imagine what kind of hell that they've put you through."
She started to shake more violently and her fists clenched.
"I'm really sorry," he said in whisper. Severus couldn't know what expression he could have, but she stared at him and her eyes filled with tears.
"If I can make you feel better, I brought you something," he said, and carefully reached into his enlarged pocket. She did nothing to stop him, so he took out a lunchbox, opened it, and put it on the floor near her.
There was a fish fillet with chips and a strawberry cake inside.
The girl grabbed the box and wolfed down its contests as quickly as before. He counted it as a success that she didn't question his intentions this time.
Like the last time, he gave her water, but this time, she didn't shatter the bottle. He noticed that the tray he left last time was nowhere near. The tray seemed to be gone from her cell
He was searched every time he entered her wing, but they didn't find or recognize a tray as a threat. So why had someone taken it from her?
"You know my name," he said, hoping it's not too early. "I would like to know what yours is."
She made a sudden move forwards; her speed surprised him. She knelt in front of him, her face inches from his. "The filthy thing," she said in raspy voice before she retreated back to the wall. There was terror on her face like she was waiting for punishment or for him to turn and leave, but when Severus did nothing, he had her full attention again.
"You misunderstood me; I was asking about the way to refer to you. If you don't like your previous name, you can make up something you like. Something that I can say without making you upset."
Severus felt drained now. He was fighting with fear – because she was powerful and unpredictable, and fighting with himself because his behavior and even choice of words were so out of character for him, that he had to control himself all the time.
Dealing with her was harder than with the Dark Lord and he thought that it would be impossible.
He felt like he was dancing on the thin line between making her upset or not. Between leaving the room with some progress or ending up dead, between receiving her wrath or her acceptance.
"Eshter," she said in barely audible whisper. Her expression clearly said that she was waiting for disapproval.
Severus gave her a small smile. "It's a nice name. I like the sound of it."
She hung her head and it gave him no clue. At least she wasn't shaking anymore.
"I have a lot of duties, Eshter, so I will be going now. Is there anything I can bring with me to make you feel better?"
She looked at him and at the door. He rose slowly, and did not take his eyes off her.
"Clothes," she said simply.
Severus raised an eyebrow. "What kind of clothes?"
"Like yours. Black and buttons and long."
Severus gave her a nod. "I will bring them, you have my word."
He was about to ask that the door be opened when she screeched., "NO!"
He felt his blood run cold. He had been under the impression, that maybe she was sane. Was she not going to let him go?
He turned around slowly, and struggled to keep his expression indifferent.
"Don't bring them, they won't let me keep them," she rasped, her words broken by sobs.
"I will see what I can do," said Severus, and used the opportunity to leave the room.
He went straight to Dumbledore.
Thank to Artemis J. Halk for beta reading this chapter. I couldn't have a better friend :D