It was spring before a reply came to Dumbledore concerning Jaken. The owl came to him during a meal in the Great Hall. He broke the wax seal and perused the contents.
Monsieur Dumbledore,
I have received your message that you have information on my lost sister. Unfortunately, I am detained in Marseille on business and cannot get away to meet you. If it is convenient, you may visit me here at my home March 6. Please confirm the convenience of this date.
Sincerely,
Jaken Colberson
15214 Rue de St. Denis
Dumbledore excused himself and hurried to his office to reply. It struck him as odd that a brother could not pull himself away from his work long enough to hear any news about a missing sister. However, his own curiosity in the matter prompted him to accept the arrangements. He would take Filius with him, leaving Minerva, Severus, and Remus to look after the girl.
Monsieur Colberson,
I shall meet you at your home, March 6 at six o'clock in the evening. I shall be bringing an associate of mine as well.
Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
"What was his reply?"
Dumbledore looked up to find Snape standing before him. He had followed him to his office, knowing who the letter was from.
"He wishes to meet at his home next week."
"You're going?"
"I am." He motioned to a chair and Snape sat. "Tell me, Severus. What do you know about this man?"
"Not much. I only met him a handful of times; never for long. He's not a fan of mine." The professor pulled his robes about himself and crossed his arms. "He has never liked me, nor I him."
"Did he know about your past?"
"He's the one who told Medea about my trial. He knew at least that I was tried as a Death Eater. Beyond that, I do not know." He stared at the Headmaster, who sat quietly, his eyes closed in thought. "Why do you ask?"
"Severus, you were quite adamant when you first met Medea that she was dead. You said you saw her body yourself. Yet, she is here, quite alive, and her brother is looking for her. He, at least, knows she is still alive." He stood and walked around his desk so he was standing directly before the man. "We have yet to speak of what happened after you left her to come here. Perhaps you should tell me why you thought she was dead."
"After I left her home, I returned here to Hogwarts. I was distraught at the idea of never seeing her again. I had made up my mind that I would bring her here to live with me. I did not want you to tell me I could not, so I went, again, without permission."
"I'm seeing that my trust in you was misplaced."
"The bond of my heart was stronger than the bond of my word."
Snape apparated outside the familiar door of Medea's flat. His hands were shaking. Twice now in two days, he was disobeying the man to whom he owed his life. But tonight, tonight, if she would allow it, he would return with his future bride. He did not know how Dumbledore would react, but at this moment, he did not care. He could not leave her behind.
He reached out and knocked on her door, the loud echo of it startling even himself in its courage. He waited. No answer. He could not even hear the sound of movement inside. He knocked again, slightly louder. Still, nothing. Perhaps she went to her brother's? The young man could not leave without telling her his feelings. He did not know if he would be able to return again. Quickly, he scrawled a message to her on a piece of parchment, asking her to come to Hogwarts with him, that he would be waiting for her there. Bending to slip the letter under the door, he noticed the thinnest sliver of light. Was she home?
His hand reached out to turn the knob. It turned, unhindered by any lock. Without hesitation, Snape pushed the door open and entered. The living room was well lit, but silent. His eyes slid over the room, noticing nothing unusual. They turned to the darkened hallway. He flipped the light switch to light his way to the bedroom and stopped. The door had been forced open. Destroyed, actually. Heart pounding, he was in the dark room in two strides. Only the light from the hallway lit the entrance of the room. He flipped another switch.
For the rest of his life, the sight which greeted him haunted his dreams. Medea, his sweet Medea, lay on the floor of the room. She lay on her back, her faced turned away from him. Her clothes were torn, soaked in blood about her chest. It was coagulating on the wood floors. Without realizing it, he was on the floor, cradling her in his arms, holding her hands, trying to find some warmth.
"Medea? Medea, no, open your eyes. Please, open your eyes."
He tried to wipe the blood from her mouth, but only smeared it across her chin.
"Please, come back to me. Please."
Her face, her bands, she was so cold. He buried his face in her hair.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He could say nothing more. His throat was closed in a sob. His cheeks were wet. Severus Snape sat on the floor of her bedroom, cradling the body of his fiancée, his love; the one person in his life who knew him, yet still trusted and loved him, unconditionally. The tears of his sorrow mixed with the dark life-giving liquid which had flowed from her body. He could do nothing to save her.
He had no idea how long he had been there, but the "pop" of an apparation brought his senses back to him. Someone was there. Snape looked down at his beloved's body in his arms. He could not be found here. He was a convicted Death Eater. No one would believe it was not he who had killed her.
Gently, he kissed her forehead and lowered her back to the floor.
"Dea?"
It was Jaken who had come into the apartment. Snape slid his wand from his sleeve and disapparated moments before her brother entered the room.
"I made my way back to my room without seeing anyone. It was pure luck, for the first glance I caught of myself in a mirror revealed I was covered in her blood. My robes, my hands- It was everywhere. Even after I had scrubbed my skin raw, I could still see it."
Dumbledore's heart turned as the image of Snape finding her body filled his mind. There were no words that could form the thoughts in his mind. Silence filled the room, both men lost in their own thoughts.
"He must have found a way to heal her," Snape said at last. "Some spell that healed her body, but stopped her from aging."
"There are no such spells, Severus. No magic can give life where it has been lost."
"Then how do you explain it? How can she be here with us?" Snape rose from his seat. "She's here, Albus! She's under this very roof, and she's alive! He must have found a way!"
Though Dumbledore knew it was impossible, he could not argue with the evidence. More than ever, he wished to speak with Jaken Colberson.