Disclaimer All HP characters belong to the fabulous JK. I'll put them back. I promise. I am not making any money from this endeavor.

Lorien's name I obviously..um..acquired from my other favorite series of books.

First Encounter ~*~

The days following Lorien's interview proved to keep her quite busy. She spent a good deal of time with Poppy, taking inventory of the ward's medical supplies and preparing for the coming school year. The older witch was meticulous and well organized, and Lorien was impressed with the knowledge she demonstrated concerning the healing arts. She continually wove amusing and interesting tales of the predicaments that the students at Hogwarts found themselves in, and Lorien found herself looking forward to the challenge of treating them this year.

Lorien had also made it a point to spend time in the greenhouses to familiarize herself with the nearly endless variety of herbs, flowers, and plants growing there. She found Professor Sprout to be cheerful and hard- working, and liked exchanging suggestions on cultivation techniques with the woman.

"Have you finished unpacking yet?" Sprout asked her.

"Just about. Pretty much everything is put away. I just have a few knickknacks to hang up. It looks a little odd though."

"Why is that?" Sprout asked.

"Well, I didn't bring all my things to Hogwarts, and I have so much extra space! I guess it's better than being cramped," Lorien laughed.

"Here. This will help a little." Professor Sprout reached down behind the bench they were working at and pulled up a small, pretty ceramic pot and handed it to Lorien.

"Thank you so much!" Lorien looked down at the thick, serrated leaves of the odd-looking plant contained in the pot.

"I already know exactly where to put this. What is it anyway? I'm not familiar with this one."

Professor Sprout smiled to herself, pleased that she had been able to surprise the younger witch. She knew Lorien was a mistress of plantlore and excelled at herbology, and it was amusing to see the healer become excited about a new discovery.

"It's called a Lucky Plant," Sprout replied. "It brings good luck to all who grow it in their homes. It's a relative of the more mundane kalanchoe, but the magic it carries is subtle and strong."

Lorien smiled at the older woman.

"I love it. That was sweet of you to be so thoughtful."

"Just keep that in mind when I call on you to help me transplant the first batch of mandrakes!" Sprout replied with a wicked grin.

Lorien spent time getting to know the layout of a good deal of the castle, and could manage to get around fairly well without getting lost often. She also made it a point to take advantage of the time before the bustle of students arrived to explore the extensive library and to wander the grounds while the weather was good.

It was a dreary afternoon the week before the first day of classes. Lorien was sitting at a table in the hospital wing, reading a passage about her houseplant in a large book. Madame Pomfrey sat across from her fretting over details, and making a last minute list of things to do.

"You'll keep an eye on the supply of Pepper-Up Potion?" It wasn't really a question.

"Yes, Poppy."

"And the feverfew powder?"

"Yes, Poppy."

"And you know to send me an owl if there's anything you have questions about?"

"Poppy, please. Stop fretting." Lorien reached over to touch the older witch's hand. It'll be fine. Everything's ready. I'll be fine. You just need to worry about your sister now. She's going to need you a great deal."

"I know. I just don't want to forget anything before I leave in the morning," Pomfrey said distractedly.

"You should probably finish packing, Poppy," Lorien said.

"I know. I just have one last thing I want to do," the older witch said.

"What is it? Maybe I can help you. That way you won't be up all night worrying about packing."

"I wanted to make sure we had a fresh supply of Freloux's Elixir on hand. You know how it loses potency when it sits a while," replied Poppy.

"Poppy, you need to pack. Don't even trouble yourself about it. I'll take care of it," Lorien assured the tired-looking woman.

"Are you sure?"

"No problem. It's a pretty simple formula. Besides, I have plenty of time to kill over the next few days. I can do it tomorrow."

Poppy looked relieved.

"Thank you, Lorien. Oh, that reminds me!" Pomfrey said suddenly.

Pomfrey removed a fine gold chain from around her neck and handed it to Lorien. Hanging on the end of the chain was a small, odd-looking key.

"This unlocks the two supply cabinets in the school where controlled substances are kept. "The small white one in my office and there's a large ornate lacquered cabinet in the small supply room in the dungeon."

"The dungeon? Oh, the potions lab," Lorien replied, remembering what McGonagall had told her.

"Yes. The counterspells to unlock the potions classroom and supply room are changed each week by Professor Snape, and you'll always find them in the upper right drawer of my desk. I rarely have need of them, but in case of emergency or we run short of something you can often find more down there."

"Good to know. Now please stop worrying and go get ready to see your sister," said Lorien. She placed the chain with the small key around her own neck.

The next morning Lorien rose early to see Poppy off. After hugging the older witch and assuring her that all would be well, Lorien watched as she stepped back, took one last look at the castle a short distance away, and disappeared with her bags.

After Pomfrey disapparated, Lorien began walking back to the school grounds. Yesterday's clouds were thinning, and the day promised to be warm and clear.

When she reached the castle, she proceeded to the medical wing and spent half an hour making some minor adjustments of the way things were organized. After all, if she were going to spend the next several months working here, things might as well be the way she needed them.

She decided finally, that she was hungry and headed to the great hall. Seated at a small table were Flitwick and McGonagall with a woman she'd not yet met. She fleetingly had the impression of a looking at a large insect as she glanced at the woman's large glasses and colorful robes.

"Good Morning, Mistress Lorien," Filias Flitwick called out to her.

"Ah, yes. The Healer. I foresaw my path crossing yours today," The woman with glasses chimed in with a dreamy voice.

'Trelawney.' It dawned on Lorien who she was. She noted that McGonagall and Flitwick each wore an odd expression as she joined the table.

"Really?" she replied to the seer. "Then you must be Professor Trelawney."

"Sybil." The woman extended a hand covered in rings and bangles. Lorien introduced herself and shook the offered hand.

"My dear," Trelawney began, hanging onto Lorien's wrist. "What an interesting lifeline you have." She began to scrutinize the palm before her. "Why don't you let me read for you?"

"Sybil, get off it. Let the poor woman have breakfast," Mcgonagall scolded.

"Forgive me," Trelawney replied, letting go. " I often get swept up as the Sight comes to me. Perhaps later we can do a proper reading for you?"

"That would be...um...nice," Lorien replied with a quick smile. She flashed Mcgonagall a grateful look while Trelawney was occupied with her tea cup. Of course, Pomfrey and Sprout had already filled her in about the eccentric mystic.

"How was Poppy when she left?" Minerva inquired. "Everything ok?"

"Yes, but I know it was difficult for her to leave," answered Lorien.

"She'll get over it as soon as the babies arrive. She's so excited about the twins."

"They'll be a lot of work," Flitwick added. "I'm sure her sister can't wait for her to get there."

Lorien rose from the table after a few more minutes, taking a muffin with her.

"Well, if you'll excuse me," she said, "I have a few things to attend to that I'd better get started on. See you all later."

She headed back to the hospital wing, wanting to get started on the task that lay before her. She had promised Poppy that she would brew a fresh batch of Freloux's Elixir, (used for pain control and mild sedation) and she wanted to get it out of the way.

It was a simple potion, really, and Lorien knew the formula well, but she knew it was time consuming and would take her several hours to prepare.

She set up a cauldron, and began gathering the ingredients she needed. After laying everything out on the table she would be working on, she surveyed what she had collected. Satisfied that she had everything but the final, potent ingredient, she headed to the office.

Kneeling in front of the small white cabinet, Lorien removed the chain from around her neck. The odd little key seemed to vibrate slightly as the lock clicked open, and she replaced the chain around her neck.

It was only a moment before her brow furrowed slightly. There weren't a large number of packets and vials on the shelves, and it was easy to see that no morphia pods sat in their midst.

'Hmm. Poppy must have used the last and forgot to replace them.'

She realized that she'd have to venture down to the supply room in the potions lab if she were going to get this done today.

Lorien headed for the dungeon.

The dungeon of Hogwarts was quiet during the summer. Very quiet. There were few offices in use, and since the students had not yet returned, the classrooms and Slytherin dormitories remained silent.

Lorien found that the temperature in the hallway she walked along was noticeably lower than the upper floors. Her soft footfalls were the only noise she noticed at all as she walked to stand in front of the door to the potions classroom.

"Umbra." She spoke to the door. There was a soft click and the door creaked open on its own an inch. Torches on the wall in the classroom flickered to life as she entered and noticed the faint scents that always lingered in the room . Some of the smells she recognized, some she didn't, and some she was sure she didn't want to.

She stood for a moment, gazing around the large room, taking in everything from the student workbenches to the gargoyle's head that leaned over the large stone basin in the corner. Off to one side of the classroom there was another door.

'That must be the supply room'.

Lorien headed across the room to stand in front of the heavy wooden door. It too was locked.

"Caligo." She uttered the second counterspell. She spotted the dark, lacquered cabinet as the smaller room's torches sputtered and ignited.

'There it is.'

She pulled the chain from beneath her robe and slipped it over her head. Again she noticed the faint vibration emitted as the key turned in the lock and then felt it click. Replacing the key beneath her robe she pulled the door handle.

Nothing.

She pulled harder.

No movement.

'I felt it work.'

Lorien leaned closer to scrutinize the cabinet door.

"WHAT, may I ask, are you doing!?"

Lorien jumped about ten feet at the sound of the voice behind her. Whirling, she found herself facing the dark-haired man who spoke. He was taller than she, and wore robes of ebony that swept to the floor.

'Snape.'

"You startled me," she laughed uneasily.

"Obviously," he sneered.

The faint smile faded from her lips as he slid a step closer, his black eyes fixed on hers.

"Must I repeat myself?" His voice was low but impatient.

Lorien tried to compose herself, her heart still pounding from being startled.

"I'm sorry, we haven't met yet. You must be Professor Snape. I'm Lorien Desjardins, the new.....

"I am aware of who you are, Miss Desjardins. Exactly why are you in my classroom?" Snape's eyes never left hers.

'Poppy warned me.'

"We are out of morphia pods and Madame Pomfrey informed me that most of the controlled substances were also stored down here." Lorien dangled the key and chain.

"And what do you need them for?" Snape's gaze never wavered, but he stepped past her to stand before the lacquered cabinet.

Lorien was irritated but refused to let it show. "I need to make a fresh batch of Freloux's Elixir to have on hand in the ward before....."

"And so you raid my stores?" Snape interrupted again.

"Forgive me." Lorien spoke slowly to help maintain her composure. "I was following instructions from Madame Pomfrey and was not aware they were yours."

"Hmph. I suppose you were going to attempt to brew this yourself?" Snape asked, an edge of sarcasm slipping into his voice.

"Well, of course. It's a simple formula," Lorien replied.

"I'm aware." His tone gave the impression he was being infinitely patient with her. "You've done this before?"

"Yes." She nodded.

"You're aware that you must add the ground morphia last, and in small increments?" he asked.

"Yes."

"I see."

Snape broke eye contact and turned to the cabinet. He applied a quick pressure to the door, giving it a small shove inward. It then swung open.

He turned back to her.

"Miss Desjardins, in the future you will please let me know if there is anything you need before you deplete my storeroom."

"Absolutely," Lorien replied graciously.

"This should suffice?" he asked. Snape deposited a small velvet pouch in her hand.

"Yes. Thank you, Professor." Lorien gave him a small smile.

He merely nodded, and Lorien felt she had been dismissed. She turned and walked calmly through the classroom and down the hall and it wasn't until she reached the upper floors that she showed any emotion at all.

'Whew! Poppy did not prepare me for that.' Lorien leaned against the wall of the corridor. Madame Pomfrey had informed her that the Potions Master was a 'bit intense'.

'Understatement of the year!'

She shook her head and finally laughed off the encounter.

Flipping the velvet pouch in her hand she headed to the medical wing to brew her potion.

Snape watched her go.

He noticed as she walked away that she carried about her a sense of quiet confidence typical of those versed in the Healing Arts.

He had noticed the medium blonde hair, and shapely figure hinted at under the fitted robes she wore.

He had noted the earrings she wore - small gold birds of prey.

Mostly, he noticed that the current Hogwarts healer was willing to brew some of her own potions.

'About time,' Snape sneered to himself.

He closed the cabinet, and then the door, speaking the locking spell.

His thought turned briefly to his encounter with the woman again.

'Interesting'.

He shook it off and turned to other matters.

A/N: About the counterspells... Umbra - shadow Caligo - to becloud or darken