2. Sanctuary Plea
The young woman stood in front of the enormous castle door and hesitated. Now that she was finally here in the light of day, she found herself doubting. Maybe things weren't quite what she'd imagined last night. It wouldn't be right to bother Professor Dumbledore for no reason after all. He was far too important a wizard for that. But then she cast her mind back and remembered the state she'd found her home in, the panicked flight through town, her brief glimpse of those robed and masked figures. The fear and terror they inspired was overwhelming. She hated to think about what they might represent. The very idea sent shivers through her body chilling her to the bone.
No, she didn't dare go back. The only path was forward. If only he was here! If he was, he'd listen, he always did. He'd know what to do. Taking a deep breath, she grasped the huge brass doorknocker resolutely and pounded firmly on the door with it. Then she waited, nervously scrubbing her hands up and down on the side of her pants and shifting her weight from foot to foot.
Just as she was about to reach up to try again, the door opened abruptly, and she found herself looking up into two cold black eyes and a pair of questioning eyebrows. Not a hopeful start to be confronted by this very stern face, which didn't look particularly pleased at being bothered by her. Still there didn't appear to be any other choice than to move forward now. So pretending to be undaunted by the glare the man was directing her way, she forced herself to step quickly forward into the entrance hall of the castle.
"I need to see Professor Dumbledore, please," she stated far more confidently than she felt. "It's very important that I speak to him immediately."
The intense eyes flashed with annoyance, looked her over quickly, took in the state of her clothing, her nervousness, her battered face, and obviously found her wanting. A disdainful expression joined the cold black eyes, and the tall man raised an eyebrow and inquired brusquely, "Who are you, and what business could you possibly have with the headmaster?"
Great, the last thing she needed was Cerberus at the gates! Annoyed at running into this road block when she was so close to attaining her goal, she frowned up at the rather rude man and answered firmly, "That's something that I need to discuss with Professor Dumbledore, himself. Is he here?"
"Whether he is or not, is not something I'm going to discuss with you, madam, if you refuse to tell me what you wish to see him about," the wizard in black exclaimed in an arrogant tone.
"It's really urgent, that I speak to him, please, let me speak to him, now." The woman's anxious eyes roved over the impressive entrance hall as she spoke hoping to find a more receptive audience for her pleas, but other than the moving figures in the many paintings on the wall the huge space seemed to be deserted. Surely the castle contained more than one man. Couldn't they manage to have a more congenial doorkeeper?
The tall dark man took an intimidating step closer to her and hissed in a soft menacing voice, "If you wish to see the headmaster, you will have to tell me who you are, and what you want. There is simply no other choice."
With him looming over her in this frankly threatening manner, she could see no way out of it, so the witch took a deep breath and whispered, "Death Eaters, I need to talk to him about Death Eaters."
This pronouncement caused a very strong reaction in the tall intimidating man. Instantly he moved even closer to the woman, seized her arm in an iron grip, bent his face to hers, and hissed in a silky voice, "Just what do you have to do with Death Eaters?"
Her eyes widened in fear, as his narrowed suspiciously, and she started to tremble in the face of the cold menace, which flowed over her in waves at his touch. However, before she could even begin to gather her wits enough to form a reply, a voice of authority rang out from above.
"Severus, why are you manhandling that young woman?"
The air of menace dissolved instantly as both the woman and the man turned quickly toward the staircase and looked up. Halfway up stood a tall impressive man with long silver hair and an equally long beard wearing bright red robes trimmed in gold. Albus Dumbledore.
Severus Snape straightened up and released the arm of the trembling young woman, who fled from him immediately and ran toward the figure on the stairs.
"Professor Dumbledore," she cried in pleased relief. "It's very important that I see you. I need your help. You always said that any former student is always welcome here, and I don't know where else to turn."
Dumbledore descended calmly towards the upset young woman and looked her over carefully. "It's Evangeline Winthrop, isn't it?"
A glorious smile broke over Evangeline's face, and she felt herself finally beginning to relax. Just being in the company of this powerful presence brought her a sense of security. Gladly she replied, "Yes, Professor, it's been quite a few years, I wasn't sure that you'd remember me."
"My dear, I remember all of my former students. Now, how can I help you?" He smiled a kind smile at her, and Evangeline felt some true measure of comfort for the first time in hours. A relieved smile turned up her lips as she gave a quick sideways glance at the forbidding figure of Severus Snape, who was still hovering nearby rather like a watchful guard dog who isn't sure of his master's safety.
"I'd really rather speak to you in private, Professor."
Suddenly aware that this conversation was not going in a direction that he approved of, Snape frowned unpleasantly and stepped forward. "Albus, she said what she wished to speak to you about concerned Death Eaters. I really think perhaps I should be included in the conversation." His penetrating dark eyes held Dumbledore's kindly blue ones in thoughtful suspension for a moment.
In response to whatever meaning Snape's eyes had conveyed, a concerned frown began to crease Dumbledore's brow, and he glanced down at Evangeline. "Is this true, my dear?"
Equally determined not to let the dark wizard get his way, Evangeline straightened up and raised her chin. "Yes, it is," she said defiantly, shooting Snape a dark look. "But it also concerns some very personal and potentially dangerous information. I really don't think I can tell anyone other than you."
Dumbledore reached out and patted her arm reassuringly. "Please, don't upset yourself, Evangeline. If you need to speak to me in private, then private it will be. We'll go up to my office and have our little chat there."
He glanced over at Snape's frowning figure and said, "Severus, why don't you go on and have breakfast. I'll speak to you later if there's anything you need to be aware of."
Defeated, Snape sighed and directed a cold quelling look toward Evangeline. "Very well, Albus, whatever you wish." Then he turned abruptly, in a flurry of black silk, and stalked off into the dining hall, obviously annoyed at being thwarted.
Professor Dumbledore smiled gently, offered his arm to Evangeline, and gestured toward the staircase. "This way, my dear."
With a shy smile, the relieved witch took his proffered arm, and they proceeded up the stairs together. As they climbed, Dumbledore took in the state of her clothes and her face, and suggested a brief stop in the hospital wing on the way to his office, but Evangeline refused, insisting that she was all right and needed to talk to him right away.