1 The Mad (Crazy) Bird
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone in this except for Patricia / Latisha.
AN: Okay, I know it's a weird title, but it works. You'll see why I called this that. Um, I still don't know where Pat's gone, but I think I've got a good idea. I'll let you know later on in the chapter! I don't know what else to say about this chapter other than… which came first? The Halloween Feast or the Gryffindor / Slytherin match? I don't have the first book, and I kind of forget which comes first *cringes*
Severus Snape stared at Albus Dumbledore in astonishment. Finally he shook his head and let out a long breath.
"She's a Malfoy? As in related to Lucius and Draco Malfoy?"
"Cousin and second cousin respectively. Neither Lucius nor Draco are aware of this, and Pat – er, Latisha's not supposed to know either, but I think she figured it out a while ago. I finally confronted her mother about it, and Lanaya admitted that the girl belonged to Armadas. Raymond Eston didn't know, although I caught him looking at Latisha oddly a few times. I don't know if he ever did find out or not. She's the daughter of one of the most ruthless and cold – hearted men on the planet, and yet she is one of the most merciful and kind women I know. She has her moments when she's like her father though; she wouldn't have been Sorted into Slytherin – even with my intervention – without those moments."
"Lucius?"
"Yes, Severus, she's related to Lucius."
"Ew! That's just wrong, Albus. I've bedded a Malfoy." Severus couldn't seem to get the fact that the woman he loved was a *Malfoy*.
"Severus, does she *look* like a Malfoy? Does she *act* like a Malfoy?"
"No, but she doesn't act like an Eston, either! I had always thought she was too… cunning to be an Eston, but I thought that maybe her mother had been in Slytherin or something," Severus said.
"She's not really an Eston; that's why she doesn't act like one. She was raised as a member of the Eston family, but her father's a Malfoy, and her mother's Dryad blood flows through her veins. She hasn't been an Eston or a Malfoy since the day she was born."
"She's older than me," Severus whispered, a mischievous glint coming into his eyes.
"Only by a day, Severus. It won't make much impact on her if you tease her about it."
"Why did you come to me about this? I can't help you find her. I told her to get out of my life!" Severus looked at the older man and quickly looked away.
"Severus, just because you told her to get out of your life… do you really think, after everything I've told you, that you two can possibly stay away from each other? You think it was an accident that the mad bird she insists on using for her mail-"
"It's not a mad bird, Albus, it's a falcon." Severus cut in.
"That mad bird she uses for mail nearly took your head off. It wasn't an accident Severus," Albus said, causing the younger man to remember the day that he had been nearly decapitated by a mad falcon that was hell – bent on catching his attention. He had finally managed to calm the stupid thing and had written an especially biting letter to the bird's owner. She had responded in the same way, and the two had continued corresponding like that, each without realizing who the other was, for the better part of a year. When they had found out each other's identities, their correspondence just became more biting. Severus hadn't seen Latisha for the better part of 6 years, although he had thought of her often. He hadn't known that the reason her crazy bird was at Hogwarts was because she was applying for the Ancient Runes position until she showed up the next September. He, of course, had been the first person to see her aside from the Headmaster.
"I know it wasn't an accident," he said, returning to the present. "She had specifically told it to find me and give me a haircut or something equally annoying." Albus smiled tolerantly. Severus' hair had always annoyed Latisha, although she had hidden it well.
"So why did you come to me about this? I don't know where she's gone," Severus said.
"I came to you because you're the only person in the school who has a hope of finding her. You two *do* have a bond that is stronger than anything."
"I don't know how to use it, though," came the quiet reply.
"Severus, I don't know how to use it either. Think of her… Think *to* her… Just try. Please. We desperately need her back."
Severus looked into those blue eyes and felt his stubborn streak taking over. By *we*, Albus probably meant –
"I mean to say that you and I need her. Professor Quirrell needs her too, but you need her more than any." Severus nodded and closed his eyes. He thought of Latisha and was suddenly thrown back by an onslaught of emotions and feelings that he wasn't expecting. He opened his eyes with a gasp and saw Albus smiling at him.
"Well," the older man said. "It seems as if you've discovered how to access your bond with her. I'll leave you alone with your memories. Let me know if you contact her please." Severus watched as Albus left the office. He took a look around and decided he would rather be in his own room for this. He locked the door and walked down the corridor to his own door. Entering, he lit one candle and conjured up a blanket. He would probably get cold tonight, as he wouldn't be in bed. He sat in the same chair he sat in the night before and took a deep breath before closing his eyes.
He was assaulted by the same feelings as before, but this time he was expecting it. He focused on the memories of Latisha when they were in school. If his logic was still in place, he wouldn't be able to access the bond if he thought of the woman he knew as Patricia, since the bond hadn't been performed on a girl named Patricia. All at once he felt a mind touching his own.
*Severus?* came the startled thought. *What the hell is going on?*
*Latisha-* he began, but she cut him off once again.
*My name's not Latisha. I'm Patricia now.*
*You are not, so stop denying it. Where are you?* He asked, knowing he wouldn't get an answer out of her right away.
*In the air,* she responded annoyingly. He hated it when she answered like that. She did it just to bug him.
*Where are you, you damnable girl?*
*Somewhere… what's going on, Severus? Why are you in my head?* After a moment's hesitation, Severus thought about everything that Albus had told him. He felt her mind withdraw from his, and he reached out, hoping she wouldn't shut him out. He relaxed when her mind touched his once again.
*No… It's not possible. I can't be a Dryad…*
*I assume you already knew about the Malfoy thing?* he asked. He felt an emotion that was a lot like laughter and marvelled at how he could *feel* laughter.
*Yes, I already knew about the Malfoy thing,* she said. *I've known since I was 19.*
*Well, you are a Dryad. Are you ready to come home?*
*No,* she stated stubbornly.
*Latisha, I'm sorry for the way I talked to you. I didn't mean it. Honestly, I didn't. Please… come home. I need you.* Severus didn't like begging, but he was willing to beg and plead and do whatever it took for her to return to him. He felt her emotions shift and hoped it meant she would come home.
*Sev… I love you so much. But what you said to me hurt me to my core. I… I just can't choose between you and Jason yet…*
*That's okay! Just come home. I think that Albus is worried about you. I think there's a very good reason he wants you home. Please? For me?* He felt that laughter again and knew that she was ready to return to him.
*All right, Severus. I'll come home. Um… That is, I would come home, but…* He felt her emotions turn to confusion and panic.
*But what?* he asked frantically.
*Sev…* she said, her tone becoming even more frantic. *Sev, I can't come home!*
*Why not?* he asked, trying to keep his emotions from boiling over and panicking her even more than she already was.
*I don't know! I'm feeling… quite… heavy all of a sudden…*
*All of a sudden, or just noticing it now?* he asked. Quite a few unpleasant possibilities sped through his head until he heard her reply.
*Actually, just noticing it now… I've felt heavy for a while, but I thought it was just my latest meal… Sev, what do I do? I… I don't feel right… Something's wrong… Severus!*
*Latisha? Are you okay? What's happening? Where are you? Latisha!!!* Severus thought with increasing panic. Her last thought echoed through his mind "Something's wrong…" He reached out for her, but she was gone. Just a blank where her mind had touched his. He felt an incredible sense of loss… Almost as if his heart were breaking in two… As if he had lost the most incredible thing he had ever held…
*Albus will want to know about this…* he thought, slowly bringing himself back from that moment of touching her mind. They had been… *one* for a short, incredible moment. He got up from the chair, letting the blanket fall down. He looked around the room before leaving and going up to the Headmaster's office.
When he arrived in front of the stone gargoyle he stood for a moment, composing himself. No doubt Quirrell would be in there, waiting to hear what he had to say.
"Sugar twist," he said to the gargoyle. It moved aside and he strode up into the Headmaster's office, nodding semi – politely to Quirrell as he noticed him.
"Headmaster, I found her. Then I lost her. Wait a moment before you try and punch me out, Jason. I contacted her through that… bond…" he looked sideways at Quirrell and the other man raised an eyebrow. "That we have, spoke with her for a few moments, and then she informed me that something was wrong and she couldn't return home for some reason. I don't know where she was when I spoke with her. I… I lost contact with her, Albus. I lost contact with her, and the void that's left is killing me." Quirrell curled his lip and rolled his eyes at Severus.
"Right. And we're supposed to believe that?" Severus whirled on Quirrell with a snarl.
"Listen, if you don't want to believe me about it, that's fine. But will you believe Albus?" he asked.
"Why wouldn't I believe the Headmaster? He wouldn't lie to me or steal my wife from me," Quirrell said in response.
"Gentlemen, that's enough for now," Albus said, coming between the two. "Jason, Severus does indeed have a bond with your wife that is unbreakable by any of us in this room. I won't go into the whole story right now, but suffice to say that you need to believe what Severus is telling us. Your wife's life may depend on it. Severus, did she say anything specific?" Severus continued to glare at Quirrell while nodding to Dumbledore's question.
"Yes. She said something about noticing feeling heavy all of a sudden. She said that she had felt heavy-ish for a while, but had just thought it was her latest meal. She wasn't very coherent by the time she dropped -" Severus stopped suddenly and his eyes widened in horror. "She dropped, Albus. I just realised it. She dropped from whatever height she was at to who knows how high. I don't believe this…" he moaned, sitting down and putting his head in his hands. Albus closed his eyes, and Quirrell let out a breath as they each received various mental ideas about what had happened. All three of the men in the office loved the young woman who had left so rashly, albeit in different ways. Dumbledore loved her like the daughter he had never gotten a chance to get to know; Jason loved her like the wife he had always worshipped; Severus loved her like the bond mate to him that she was. All three of the men in that office would feel a significant loss if they didn't find her.
Quirrell was the one to recover his wits first.
"Well, I guess this changes things," he said slowly.
"What do you mean?" Severus mumbled from between his hands.
"What I mean is this: Both you and I are smitten with her, and we'd do anything to protect her, am I right?"
"I'm not smitten with her. I love her with all my heart," came the response.
"Yes, well. That's all very romantic, but you won't get a chance to tell her that if you and I don't put aside our hatred and work together to find her. She won't get the chance to tell us what possessed her to turn into an eagle and leave in the dead of night. Once again I ask you this: Are you willing to do this for her?" Quirrell looked at Severus, his eyes full of disdain, and Severus slowly raised his eyes. He blinked once before replying.
"I would do anything for her. Even work with you," he growled.
"Excellent. Now, Severus, do you have any idea where she was?" Dumbledore asked. Severus shook his head without answering. He opened his mouth as if to say something when the office door flew open and Hagrid stumbled in, breathing hard.
"Headmaster, I was brought this," he said, carefully placing a very unconscious and very bloodied up eagle on the desk. "Normally I'da looked after 'er meself, ya see, but one o' the centaurs reckoned I oughta bring 'er up ter you. No idear why, though." Quirrell placed one hand on the bird before pulling away.
"Well, that takes care of looking for her," he said, wiping his hand on his robes. Severus looked at the bird carefully and wasn't surprised to see that the eagle's wings were tipped with red that wasn't blood.
"Take care of 'er," Hagrid said, backing out of the office. "I'd hate ter lose such a fine woman as 'er."
"What do we do, Albus?" Severus asked quietly.
"Just wait. That's all we can do. We have to wait for her to regain consciousness before we can do anything," Dumbledore said, not looking away from the small creature on his desk. His eyes narrowed as one of the wings twitched, and he smiled gently as the bird opened her dark eyes. She opened her beak in a half – hearted hiss and Fawkes the phoenix flew from his perch to where she lay.
"Latisha, it's time to come back," Dumbledore said softly. Neither of the younger men knew what he was talking about, but Severus' mouth turned up at the corner as the once magnificent eagle tried to right herself. Her beak opened in a loud shriek, and in the exact spot the eagle was, sat Latisha Tatiana Quirrell. She was a rather bloodied up Ancient Runes teacher, but she was alive. Dumbledore hugged her fiercely and when he let go, they could see she had tears streaming down her cheeks. Quirrell approached her warily, as if he thought she was going to turn into something else and leave again, but after a moments hesitation, she threw herself into his arms. Severus looked away so he didn't have to see the look Quirrell was shooting at him, and Fawkes fluttered to his shoulder and laid his head against Severus' neck.
"He's still quite taken with you, it seems," he heard. He looked up into the deep black eyes of the wife of his co – worker, and looked down again. He heard the door open and shut, and felt Latisha touch his jaw, forcing him to look up at her again.
"Severus," she whispered before lightly touching her lips to his. He pulled away, looking around the room. "Dumbledore's taken Jason down to Hogsmede for a drink… or ten…" she said in response to the unspoken question. "Jason has a lot of questions he needs explaining."
Fawkes hopped to Latisha's shoulder and laid his head against her neck, where the blood seemed to originate from. Severus watched in fascination as the bird cried the healing tears and the gash healed itself. Latisha smiled fondly and patted Fawked gently.
"Thanks old friend," she said. "Hagrid would have gone mad if you hadn't done that." Fawkes trilled a few notes of his beautiful song before looking pointedly at the door. She smiled again and took Severus' hand. "Come, Love. We need to talk."
"Do you promise to not leave this time?" he asked.
"Only if you promise to help me get cleaned up," she replied. "I'm afraid I look a fright, what with all this blood and dirt."
The two walked to the door, and Latisha looked pointedly at Fawkes, who was still on her shoulder.
"Do I have to toss you in the lake again?" she asked. The bird looked at her reproachfully before spreading his wings and flying over to his perch. Severus put his hand on her waist and directed her out of the office, not yet opening his mind to her, but longing to none the less. He ached to have that connection with her again, but knew that she needed to get cleaned up and that they had to get things sorted out between them before he could bed her with that open bond.
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone in this except for Patricia / Latisha.
AN: Okay, I know it's a weird title, but it works. You'll see why I called this that. Um, I still don't know where Pat's gone, but I think I've got a good idea. I'll let you know later on in the chapter! I don't know what else to say about this chapter other than… which came first? The Halloween Feast or the Gryffindor / Slytherin match? I don't have the first book, and I kind of forget which comes first *cringes*
Severus Snape stared at Albus Dumbledore in astonishment. Finally he shook his head and let out a long breath.
"She's a Malfoy? As in related to Lucius and Draco Malfoy?"
"Cousin and second cousin respectively. Neither Lucius nor Draco are aware of this, and Pat – er, Latisha's not supposed to know either, but I think she figured it out a while ago. I finally confronted her mother about it, and Lanaya admitted that the girl belonged to Armadas. Raymond Eston didn't know, although I caught him looking at Latisha oddly a few times. I don't know if he ever did find out or not. She's the daughter of one of the most ruthless and cold – hearted men on the planet, and yet she is one of the most merciful and kind women I know. She has her moments when she's like her father though; she wouldn't have been Sorted into Slytherin – even with my intervention – without those moments."
"Lucius?"
"Yes, Severus, she's related to Lucius."
"Ew! That's just wrong, Albus. I've bedded a Malfoy." Severus couldn't seem to get the fact that the woman he loved was a *Malfoy*.
"Severus, does she *look* like a Malfoy? Does she *act* like a Malfoy?"
"No, but she doesn't act like an Eston, either! I had always thought she was too… cunning to be an Eston, but I thought that maybe her mother had been in Slytherin or something," Severus said.
"She's not really an Eston; that's why she doesn't act like one. She was raised as a member of the Eston family, but her father's a Malfoy, and her mother's Dryad blood flows through her veins. She hasn't been an Eston or a Malfoy since the day she was born."
"She's older than me," Severus whispered, a mischievous glint coming into his eyes.
"Only by a day, Severus. It won't make much impact on her if you tease her about it."
"Why did you come to me about this? I can't help you find her. I told her to get out of my life!" Severus looked at the older man and quickly looked away.
"Severus, just because you told her to get out of your life… do you really think, after everything I've told you, that you two can possibly stay away from each other? You think it was an accident that the mad bird she insists on using for her mail-"
"It's not a mad bird, Albus, it's a falcon." Severus cut in.
"That mad bird she uses for mail nearly took your head off. It wasn't an accident Severus," Albus said, causing the younger man to remember the day that he had been nearly decapitated by a mad falcon that was hell – bent on catching his attention. He had finally managed to calm the stupid thing and had written an especially biting letter to the bird's owner. She had responded in the same way, and the two had continued corresponding like that, each without realizing who the other was, for the better part of a year. When they had found out each other's identities, their correspondence just became more biting. Severus hadn't seen Latisha for the better part of 6 years, although he had thought of her often. He hadn't known that the reason her crazy bird was at Hogwarts was because she was applying for the Ancient Runes position until she showed up the next September. He, of course, had been the first person to see her aside from the Headmaster.
"I know it wasn't an accident," he said, returning to the present. "She had specifically told it to find me and give me a haircut or something equally annoying." Albus smiled tolerantly. Severus' hair had always annoyed Latisha, although she had hidden it well.
"So why did you come to me about this? I don't know where she's gone," Severus said.
"I came to you because you're the only person in the school who has a hope of finding her. You two *do* have a bond that is stronger than anything."
"I don't know how to use it, though," came the quiet reply.
"Severus, I don't know how to use it either. Think of her… Think *to* her… Just try. Please. We desperately need her back."
Severus looked into those blue eyes and felt his stubborn streak taking over. By *we*, Albus probably meant –
"I mean to say that you and I need her. Professor Quirrell needs her too, but you need her more than any." Severus nodded and closed his eyes. He thought of Latisha and was suddenly thrown back by an onslaught of emotions and feelings that he wasn't expecting. He opened his eyes with a gasp and saw Albus smiling at him.
"Well," the older man said. "It seems as if you've discovered how to access your bond with her. I'll leave you alone with your memories. Let me know if you contact her please." Severus watched as Albus left the office. He took a look around and decided he would rather be in his own room for this. He locked the door and walked down the corridor to his own door. Entering, he lit one candle and conjured up a blanket. He would probably get cold tonight, as he wouldn't be in bed. He sat in the same chair he sat in the night before and took a deep breath before closing his eyes.
He was assaulted by the same feelings as before, but this time he was expecting it. He focused on the memories of Latisha when they were in school. If his logic was still in place, he wouldn't be able to access the bond if he thought of the woman he knew as Patricia, since the bond hadn't been performed on a girl named Patricia. All at once he felt a mind touching his own.
*Severus?* came the startled thought. *What the hell is going on?*
*Latisha-* he began, but she cut him off once again.
*My name's not Latisha. I'm Patricia now.*
*You are not, so stop denying it. Where are you?* He asked, knowing he wouldn't get an answer out of her right away.
*In the air,* she responded annoyingly. He hated it when she answered like that. She did it just to bug him.
*Where are you, you damnable girl?*
*Somewhere… what's going on, Severus? Why are you in my head?* After a moment's hesitation, Severus thought about everything that Albus had told him. He felt her mind withdraw from his, and he reached out, hoping she wouldn't shut him out. He relaxed when her mind touched his once again.
*No… It's not possible. I can't be a Dryad…*
*I assume you already knew about the Malfoy thing?* he asked. He felt an emotion that was a lot like laughter and marvelled at how he could *feel* laughter.
*Yes, I already knew about the Malfoy thing,* she said. *I've known since I was 19.*
*Well, you are a Dryad. Are you ready to come home?*
*No,* she stated stubbornly.
*Latisha, I'm sorry for the way I talked to you. I didn't mean it. Honestly, I didn't. Please… come home. I need you.* Severus didn't like begging, but he was willing to beg and plead and do whatever it took for her to return to him. He felt her emotions shift and hoped it meant she would come home.
*Sev… I love you so much. But what you said to me hurt me to my core. I… I just can't choose between you and Jason yet…*
*That's okay! Just come home. I think that Albus is worried about you. I think there's a very good reason he wants you home. Please? For me?* He felt that laughter again and knew that she was ready to return to him.
*All right, Severus. I'll come home. Um… That is, I would come home, but…* He felt her emotions turn to confusion and panic.
*But what?* he asked frantically.
*Sev…* she said, her tone becoming even more frantic. *Sev, I can't come home!*
*Why not?* he asked, trying to keep his emotions from boiling over and panicking her even more than she already was.
*I don't know! I'm feeling… quite… heavy all of a sudden…*
*All of a sudden, or just noticing it now?* he asked. Quite a few unpleasant possibilities sped through his head until he heard her reply.
*Actually, just noticing it now… I've felt heavy for a while, but I thought it was just my latest meal… Sev, what do I do? I… I don't feel right… Something's wrong… Severus!*
*Latisha? Are you okay? What's happening? Where are you? Latisha!!!* Severus thought with increasing panic. Her last thought echoed through his mind "Something's wrong…" He reached out for her, but she was gone. Just a blank where her mind had touched his. He felt an incredible sense of loss… Almost as if his heart were breaking in two… As if he had lost the most incredible thing he had ever held…
*Albus will want to know about this…* he thought, slowly bringing himself back from that moment of touching her mind. They had been… *one* for a short, incredible moment. He got up from the chair, letting the blanket fall down. He looked around the room before leaving and going up to the Headmaster's office.
When he arrived in front of the stone gargoyle he stood for a moment, composing himself. No doubt Quirrell would be in there, waiting to hear what he had to say.
"Sugar twist," he said to the gargoyle. It moved aside and he strode up into the Headmaster's office, nodding semi – politely to Quirrell as he noticed him.
"Headmaster, I found her. Then I lost her. Wait a moment before you try and punch me out, Jason. I contacted her through that… bond…" he looked sideways at Quirrell and the other man raised an eyebrow. "That we have, spoke with her for a few moments, and then she informed me that something was wrong and she couldn't return home for some reason. I don't know where she was when I spoke with her. I… I lost contact with her, Albus. I lost contact with her, and the void that's left is killing me." Quirrell curled his lip and rolled his eyes at Severus.
"Right. And we're supposed to believe that?" Severus whirled on Quirrell with a snarl.
"Listen, if you don't want to believe me about it, that's fine. But will you believe Albus?" he asked.
"Why wouldn't I believe the Headmaster? He wouldn't lie to me or steal my wife from me," Quirrell said in response.
"Gentlemen, that's enough for now," Albus said, coming between the two. "Jason, Severus does indeed have a bond with your wife that is unbreakable by any of us in this room. I won't go into the whole story right now, but suffice to say that you need to believe what Severus is telling us. Your wife's life may depend on it. Severus, did she say anything specific?" Severus continued to glare at Quirrell while nodding to Dumbledore's question.
"Yes. She said something about noticing feeling heavy all of a sudden. She said that she had felt heavy-ish for a while, but had just thought it was her latest meal. She wasn't very coherent by the time she dropped -" Severus stopped suddenly and his eyes widened in horror. "She dropped, Albus. I just realised it. She dropped from whatever height she was at to who knows how high. I don't believe this…" he moaned, sitting down and putting his head in his hands. Albus closed his eyes, and Quirrell let out a breath as they each received various mental ideas about what had happened. All three of the men in the office loved the young woman who had left so rashly, albeit in different ways. Dumbledore loved her like the daughter he had never gotten a chance to get to know; Jason loved her like the wife he had always worshipped; Severus loved her like the bond mate to him that she was. All three of the men in that office would feel a significant loss if they didn't find her.
Quirrell was the one to recover his wits first.
"Well, I guess this changes things," he said slowly.
"What do you mean?" Severus mumbled from between his hands.
"What I mean is this: Both you and I are smitten with her, and we'd do anything to protect her, am I right?"
"I'm not smitten with her. I love her with all my heart," came the response.
"Yes, well. That's all very romantic, but you won't get a chance to tell her that if you and I don't put aside our hatred and work together to find her. She won't get the chance to tell us what possessed her to turn into an eagle and leave in the dead of night. Once again I ask you this: Are you willing to do this for her?" Quirrell looked at Severus, his eyes full of disdain, and Severus slowly raised his eyes. He blinked once before replying.
"I would do anything for her. Even work with you," he growled.
"Excellent. Now, Severus, do you have any idea where she was?" Dumbledore asked. Severus shook his head without answering. He opened his mouth as if to say something when the office door flew open and Hagrid stumbled in, breathing hard.
"Headmaster, I was brought this," he said, carefully placing a very unconscious and very bloodied up eagle on the desk. "Normally I'da looked after 'er meself, ya see, but one o' the centaurs reckoned I oughta bring 'er up ter you. No idear why, though." Quirrell placed one hand on the bird before pulling away.
"Well, that takes care of looking for her," he said, wiping his hand on his robes. Severus looked at the bird carefully and wasn't surprised to see that the eagle's wings were tipped with red that wasn't blood.
"Take care of 'er," Hagrid said, backing out of the office. "I'd hate ter lose such a fine woman as 'er."
"What do we do, Albus?" Severus asked quietly.
"Just wait. That's all we can do. We have to wait for her to regain consciousness before we can do anything," Dumbledore said, not looking away from the small creature on his desk. His eyes narrowed as one of the wings twitched, and he smiled gently as the bird opened her dark eyes. She opened her beak in a half – hearted hiss and Fawkes the phoenix flew from his perch to where she lay.
"Latisha, it's time to come back," Dumbledore said softly. Neither of the younger men knew what he was talking about, but Severus' mouth turned up at the corner as the once magnificent eagle tried to right herself. Her beak opened in a loud shriek, and in the exact spot the eagle was, sat Latisha Tatiana Quirrell. She was a rather bloodied up Ancient Runes teacher, but she was alive. Dumbledore hugged her fiercely and when he let go, they could see she had tears streaming down her cheeks. Quirrell approached her warily, as if he thought she was going to turn into something else and leave again, but after a moments hesitation, she threw herself into his arms. Severus looked away so he didn't have to see the look Quirrell was shooting at him, and Fawkes fluttered to his shoulder and laid his head against Severus' neck.
"He's still quite taken with you, it seems," he heard. He looked up into the deep black eyes of the wife of his co – worker, and looked down again. He heard the door open and shut, and felt Latisha touch his jaw, forcing him to look up at her again.
"Severus," she whispered before lightly touching her lips to his. He pulled away, looking around the room. "Dumbledore's taken Jason down to Hogsmede for a drink… or ten…" she said in response to the unspoken question. "Jason has a lot of questions he needs explaining."
Fawkes hopped to Latisha's shoulder and laid his head against her neck, where the blood seemed to originate from. Severus watched in fascination as the bird cried the healing tears and the gash healed itself. Latisha smiled fondly and patted Fawked gently.
"Thanks old friend," she said. "Hagrid would have gone mad if you hadn't done that." Fawkes trilled a few notes of his beautiful song before looking pointedly at the door. She smiled again and took Severus' hand. "Come, Love. We need to talk."
"Do you promise to not leave this time?" he asked.
"Only if you promise to help me get cleaned up," she replied. "I'm afraid I look a fright, what with all this blood and dirt."
The two walked to the door, and Latisha looked pointedly at Fawkes, who was still on her shoulder.
"Do I have to toss you in the lake again?" she asked. The bird looked at her reproachfully before spreading his wings and flying over to his perch. Severus put his hand on her waist and directed her out of the office, not yet opening his mind to her, but longing to none the less. He ached to have that connection with her again, but knew that she needed to get cleaned up and that they had to get things sorted out between them before he could bed her with that open bond.
