She had been running through the woods. If only she would reach the cave already… They couldn't stop her anymore. He is such a fool if he thinks he can defeat her. Even the undergrowth leaned out of her way, knowing it was for the better. She could hear the horses and the soldiers as she ran the last few meters and she felt victorious as she swept a thick ivy branch from the opening of the ancient cave, which was the heart of magic in the time of the Old Religion and served as a refuge until there had been no one left to shelter anymore. She was going to change everything.
„ Minerva, please notify Poppy about her new patient!" Dumbledore asked in a calm tone while he inspected the young woman lying on the ground. She was wearing a leaf green dress with a forest green cloak. She had long, wavy, dark hair, some lighter injuries covered her face and she was very pale. Also, she wouldn't wake no matter what they had tried.
„What do you think, Severus?" he asked the dark man standing next to him as Minerva took off to the Infirmary.
„There is a chance she is incredibly dangerous, however, I have no reason to believe that her appearance is more than a mere accident. She is probably nothing, but an unfortunate muggle. Though the fact that she was found in the Forbbiden Forest is very curious, indeed." Severus answered as he lifted her with a spell.
„We'll see, I'm sure." the older wizard said before he apparated them both back to the castle.
The moment they arrived Poppy guided Severus to an empty bad and started working while she asked some questions.
„So what do we know about her?" she asked as she checked her life functions.
„Well, nothing, really. Hagrid found her in the forest and we could not wake her. Not even sure whether she is a muggle or a witch." He took another look at her in the decent lights of the room. She had a pretty face, one could even say she looked quite noble and around her neck… „Is she alright?" he asked Poppy.
„She is a strong one. Probably just needs some rest, but I will floo you when she has woken" she promised and she tried to steer the older man towards the door but he didn't move.
„Just a moment, please. Severus, as an expert, would you take a look at her necklace?" Dumbledore asked and so the man removed her necklace by magic and cast a couple of analytic spells before actually touching it.
„It seems to be magical but not harmful in nature. I must admit, I've never encountered anything like this before. It is definitely Celtic and definitely ancient, but that's all I can tell you about it at the moment, Albus:" He nodded and took the strange item from him.
„Come, now, let our gest rest!" Albus Dumbledore said as he left the young woman's bedside.
She woke to see the early morning sun painting the unfamiliar room around her red and she felt confused. She barely recognized anything. Precisely, she recognized nothing. She almost panicked but then she realized that her knowing nothing means that she might not even be at a wrong place. She slowly sat then stood, the cold stone floor feeling natural against her feet as she took in her surrounding. Looking out the window she saw a lake and a forest. The view with the rising sun was mesmerizing, she spent some time watching and gathering her thoughts.
She couldn't even remember her name, or her family, or anything about her life for that matter. She didn't even know how she looked for sure. She only saw a shallow reflection of herself mirrored by the glass of the window. It all felt incredibly weird. She slowly moved from the window and took a few steps towards the middle of the room. There were more beds but they were all empty even though it must have been still terribly early in the morning.
She looked at her nightstand and saw some folded green clothing and a bracelet on the top. It belonged to her, she knew it instantly. First, she put on the bracelet and then she changed into the green robes which fit her more conveniently than that white thing she had been wearing beforehand. Somehow she already felt more like herself. Her hair was quite frizzy from tossing and turning in her sleep so she spent a little time sitting on the bed, trying to detangle it. After a while, she gave up though and she carefully left the room to explore her location.
The old stone walls, the huge windows and the cool morning air woke a sense of familiarity in her, she almost felt at home in the corridors, still, she had no idea where she was going. She didn't have much time to wander since her departure activated Madam Pomfrey's warning spell and the matron found her in no time. Not that she was trying to escape or anything like that.
„Not so fast, dear!" the nurse said kindly as she approached. The young woman was actually pretty glad she finally found someone who might have some answers so she stood still. „You can speak, can't you?" Madam Pomfrey asked when the girl did not say a thing.
„Yes" was all she answered slowly.
„Good. Come then, I am not sure you are well enough yet to be standing out there for a longer period of time." First, she was unsure but she decided that her best chance was following the older woman, and so she did, back to the room she had just left a couple of minutes ago. „You were lucky to be found. Merlin knows what would've happened with you while you were unconscious. Anyway, please, sit." The matron gestured towards the bed in which she had woken. „I am Madam Pomfrey and I am a healer. Now I am going to check how you are. What's your name?" she asked as she waved her wand to cast some diagnostic spells.
„Well, I am incredibly sorry, but I cannot tell you that for even I don't know the answer" she managed to say while she stared at the mediwch's wand. She looked terrified.
Madam Pomfrey, growing suspicious, cast a spell to determine whether she has magic, however, the results were surprising even to her. Yes, the girl had magic, for sure, but it was different, a mixture of the magic of elves and witches and fairies and other magical creatures. It was worrisome at the least. Otherwise, she was fine though, not even a trace that could lead to what had caused her loss of consciousness was left.
„That's unfortunate. You seem to be fine, but you should stay here for a little while just to make sure nothing goes wrong. I have to get something done, I'll be back in a heartbeat. Don't leave!" She tried to stay calm and collected. She had to floo Albus.
The young woman sat on the bed and played with her bracelet. The nonfigurative pattern was hypnotising, some parts were almost like letters but she couldn't make sense of them. Overall it was very unique. This castle, on the other hand, gave her chills. This woman who claims that she is a healer waved a stick and then ran away. Maybe she should leave. She looked around. Yes, she should definitely leave.
She stood, but as she reached the door it opened and a really old man whit long white beard stepped inside accompanied by a younger man who was dressed in all black. He was tall, lean and pale, also he had long black hair. She froze then after a few seconds of eye contact with the younger stranger – whose eyes were black and deep like a well – she decided to sit back. The older man left the room towards another door she didn't spot before while the dark man kept his uninterested gaze on her. She cleared her throat.
„Excuse me, sir, but…" she started hesitantly. He lifted an eyebrow as an answer. „Where are we?" she tried again. She had some northern accent, Severus noted to himself, though she spoke pretty clearly.
„That highly depends on who is aking." His rich baritone sounded bored, but he was clearly vigilant like he expected something.
„Severus, perhaps you could be a bit nicer to our guest." the older man told him as he returned with Madam Pomfrey and approached her. „ I am Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, welcome to the school." He offered a kind smile and she decided to return it. „Now, I would ask for your name, but Poppy already told me that you don't remember, so rather than that, I'd like to ask you to choose one for your self. Don't worry, you will have some time to think about it, while we get back to my office. I suppose we can all agree that discussing further actions would be more convenient there, also we do not want to keep up Madam Pomfrey." He noted with twinkling, almost mischievous eyes and he turned towards the exit.
„Are you sure that walking the woman to your office is a good idea? Someone might catch a glimpse of her and the rumor of her presence could spread before it should." Severus asked not moving.
„ It's still early and it's not far, really, we shouldn't have any problem. At least she can see some of the castle." Dumbledore opened the door for her and she stepped out to the corridor she had already seen once.
They spent the time in silence. She tried to take in as much of her surroundings as she could and get rid of all the wild thoughts in her head. She had no idea what was going on, everything happened way too fast. Severus glared at her several times, but she was so consumed in her thoughts that she didn't even notice it. She moved very gracefully, one could even say she looked royal, he noted to himself. Something in her commanded respect and attention and she was, actually, beautiful. Not that he cared, but he was not blind after all.
„Now, do tell me, how can we address you?" Albus asked her once they all took their seats in his office. Severus frowned.
„Excuse me, Albus, but please confide me in on your plan with her. We don't even know yet whether she has magic and you are already treating her like someone who belongs here. Not to even mention the threat she could mean…" The dark man sounded quite annoyed. Dumbledore sent a sharp look his way and took a deep breath.
„Very well then. Let's ask an expert about her first." He turned towards the young woman. „I am sorry, you must be terribly confused, however, I am afraid that I have to ask you to hold on just a bit longer." He waved a stick and a really old hat appeared in his hand. She felt weird but she started to get used to this waving thing. In the end, maybe it's normal, who knows? Certainly not her… „Now, I am going to place this hat on your head and hopefully it will tell us something. Nothing to worry about I promise." He placed the hat on her with an encouraging smile.
„Hmm, interesting. You really are one of a kind." The woman held Severus' gaze as the hat talked and tried to stay calm. „ I haven't encountered your kind since… since very long ago, Severus Snape that is exactly the type of behavior that landed you in Slytherin, now leave the witch's mind or I will make you!" the hat shouted. The man only shrugged while Albus lightly laughed.
„Witch?" the woman breathed.
„Of course, you are a witch, child. Why do you think we are having this conversation? Let's see, you are patient and loyal, valuable traits, but there is something else… Yes, under the great wits and the kindness lies something bitter. You ended up at the right place, witch, but where shall I put you?" Both wizards watched her carefully.
„If he asks, just think your answer." Dumbledore offered when their eyes met.
„I don't understand you" she thought. She really did not. A hat just told her that she is a witch. „I feel like you know more about me than I do… Please, I need to know." She didn't like the thought of being that vulnerable, she should know the most and everyone else just the pieces she gives. That's the normal way.
„Not yet, witch, not yet. You have a long way to go. Now, what was your name? Ah, of course, you don't know. Do you have any ideas?" The woman lightly shook her head. „Well, then let me suggest. Hmm… Faye, Faye Thornheart daughter of Vivienne and Arthur Thornheart, pureblood raised far from England and magic for fear that it would ruin their lives after the death of her older brother Emrys, who died in a magical accident. Sounds plausible, don't you think?" She did agree, but she was not sure, maybe the other wizards had something else in mind. She decided to wait for their reaction to alter her actions. She kept the name though, she liked the ring of it and it already felt like it belonged to her somehow. „Yes, that decides it, obviously," the hat said before she could even answer which confused her. „I can see all your thoughts, Faye Thornheart, you cannot hide them. Better be Slytherin." The hat shouted the last word out loud. Severus' face went unnaturally blank but Dumbledore smiled as he removed the hat.
„Now, that was a long one, but I do hope that you are calmer now." His statement sounded more like a question towards the younger man who just shook his head.
„Not the least. She could be immense threat especially now." Now it was Albus' turn to shake his head.
„You of all people shouldn't be this judgemental, you are a Slytherin too, after all." he lectured him in a fatherly way then turned towards the young woman. „So, do tell me your name, dear." The old man gave her another kind smile, curiosity shined in his eyes.
„I am Faye. Faye Thornheart" she stated with odd confidence.