Chapter Twenty-One Lost
Author's note: Hello again, I'm here. Hmm, about the spacing, I'm not sure how to fix these stuffs. But I'll try. Some characters I type or styles don't translate well to FF.net Best I can do until I figure it out. OR someone lets me know how to (I'll try Mirei !). I'm happy people still read and review. Happy happy happy . Even not wonderful reviews, because at least I know people read it. And yes, I am Polynesian, so it's the closest of the Mary-sue thing you asked Eliza, but I'm too boring in life, so I can live through Georgie. BTW it takes me a looong time to edit things-I like doing it myself-but it does. I had maybe 15 chapters typed before I even started to post, so now it takes longer. Hmm, no romance, yea. Maybe at some point, but not for a long time, maybe in like story # 3, years from now If I'm not bored yet, but I don't write in that style. More fun to be friends with these two. Okay, now everyone go out and put in a Smiths CD and have fun.
Severus was known for his bad moods and inflicting his barbs on everyone who came into contact with him on these days, but many of the staff had forgotten this habit as they became fewer and fewer in number and occurrence.
Breakfast was strained at best and Minerva McGonagall wondered why. She worked it out so that she'd be waiting for him just outside of the doors afterwards to question him about it. She didn't know why she still bothered with that man..
She snagged Severus' sleeve and urged him to follow her to her office for a few moments of his time. He couldn't argue with good reason as he had quite a bit of time before his lesson, and she had a window, but argue he did anyway.
He plopped himself down in his chair and waited for her to begin, a look of amused contempt on his face.
"Oh, stop that Severus. You don't intimidate me anymore--never really had, you were always just a spoilt little boy. Now, suppose you tell me what's on your mind. You never were very good at hiding your irritations." He ignored her ridiculous assumptions that she could possibly understand him, and decided to indulge the woman just a little. It would be pointless to waste breath and time in arguing something that didn't concern him in the least.
"Georgie didn't show up last night. Went off and never returned."
Minerva frowned, "And you're sure of this? That's not allowed of Hogwarts students."
"She's got privileges, she can go where she chooses." He shrugged. "She last did rounds for me."
"Well, last night was Valentine's day, was it not.perhaps a boy she fancied." She tactfully stopped.
"Oh please," he spat. "Georgie hasn't a chance in hell at finding a boy like that--she's not fool enough. More than likely she's hung-over or run- away or done something equally as foolish."
"That's a very cold attitude." Minerva reprimanded. "She's not in her chamber?"
"I knocked, but there was no answer. It's not appropriate for me to go further than that without consent." Minerva nodded.
"Well, You have classes first off, but with your permission, I'll go and see if she's down there and try and talk with her. I doubt she's run-away or hung-over-the holiday's over, so stop being such a sulk." She looked down her nose at him.
He rose and drifted away without a second look towards the woman, his robes billowing out behind him like an angry black wake.
Minerva pushed open the door to Georgie's bedroom and looked in. It was hard to tell if Georgie had slept in her bed, as she surmised it was never made anyway. Her giant turtle was sleeping in a corner beneath a glowing foreign-looking lamp. Turning around, Minerva knew Georgie wasn't there so there wasn't any reason to dwell there any longer. She shut the door and carried herself out of Slytherin quarters. She would never understand how anyone could stand to live down there, Severus and foul-tempers aside. It was so cold and dismal; she shook herself to rid the feeling of damp and numbness from herself.
Minerva returned to her office and made herself up a cup of tea to chase away the chill and sat at her desk, not even glancing over The Daily Prophet opened in front of her. Severus was a fool to suggest Georgie had run-away or done something that foolish. No, if Georgie were gone she'd have gone for some other reason. It nettled her that Severus never considered that she might be in danger or injured. That had been the first thing in her mind, but then on second thought, perhaps Severus just couldn't own that he thought that way.
She sipped the scalding tea and set it down distastefully to let it cool. She couldn't bring this to Dumbledore--just not yet. If Georgie had done something foolhardy, Minerva hoped to shield the girl as long as she could. Bringing speculation about her when she only happened to be in the bath or out for a walk wouldn't help anything, Georgie would show up sooner or later.
The lunch meal came and Severus cornered Minerva as she made her way up to the table and to her regular place. He tried to look disinterested, but Minerva wasn't fooled. Still she played along. "Snape, she wasn't in her room nor anywhere else I could find. I truly thought she'd have turned up by now."
"I'm advising Albus of this." Minerva nodded at his words.
"That's probably a wise decision. He might have some insight we don't. She'll turn up though, she can handle herself." Minerva smiled and patted him on the arm before continuing on. As if he cared. Severus stayed glued to where he stood and watched as Minerva leaned in and spoke to Headmaster Dumbledore, and Albus' eyes turned with an unreadable look upon Severus. Severus wrenched himself around and continued up to his regular seat, he needed to eat didn't he?
He was glaring out over his glass at the sea of animated students in the room when he felt a tap at his back. Albus stood over him, "Georgie has not informed me of her plans, and as her things remain here it's most likely she's to return soon. Odd that she left no word, but it's not required. If she doesn't turn up by the end of your last lesson today I'll have Hagrid check the grounds and Filch the school." He gave an artificial smile and walked away.
He turned back to his food, yes, when last he saw her she was pleasant so she wouldn't do anything desperate. He tried to subscribe to everyone's hope that she would just turn up, but it didn't sound like her to be so secretive. And it wasn't like him to hold out hope.
Severus asked Siobhan and Niamh to stay behind after the class he'd just concluded with them. They hadn't any idea where she was and Siobhan was bold enough to question him on why he'd ask them when she lived by him. Severus wasn't in the mood, and he dismissed them curtly, parroting Minerva and Dumbledore in saying she'd turn up, so not to worry.
Severus slammed the door to the castle open with more force then he realized he'd put into it. He'd been with Hagrid in searching the grounds all the way to Hogsmeade, but Severus didn't care to wait around when Hagrid grimly announced all that there was left to search was the lake.
He excused himself and went in search of Filch. Severus detested Filch in every way, except that the man was the most blindly loyal and dutiful creature to walk the earth. People with that disposition were dangerous. Characteristics that Snape couldn't stand.
Severus came upon the man and the blasted cat of his just outside of the Library doors, eyeing students as they entered and exited and skirted about with their after-school twittering. Severus kept a low voice, "Found anything yet?"
"No sir," Filch wheezed. "She's not in the main part of the castle. She must've gotten off to a hardly used classroom or corridor if she's here." Or she's not on school grounds at all, Severus didn't add.
"Well, Hagrid will join us soon enough." Severus informed bitterly. "The sun's going down and he's almost conducted a thorough search outside."
Filch nodded. "I figured I'd start from the third floor and go on up from there. Are you coming along sir?"
Severus nodded and followed the man. "What do we do when something like this happens?"
Filch looked at him like he was mad, "It's never happened before. Mrs. Norris and I have usually found them out within an hour or so. Headmaster Dumbledore has a few suggestions if worse comes to worse, but so far his attempts at locating her with magic've failed." Severus could guess what Albus had attempted already.
And she accuses him of thinking negatively? How could one not?
Dinner came and went but several members of the staff were unmistakably missing from the head table, though only two students really thought that anything important might be going on.
Remus and Severus lifted magical torches to peer into a deserted passageway behind a wall in the library. They'd made sure all students were out of sight and earshot before slipping through the narrow opening.
"How is it I've never had the privilege of coming here before?" His dark eyes darted up at the roughly hewn walls and underfoot.
Severus wasn't up to Remus' attempts to be lighthearted; he would appreciate it better after all was settled, but not now.
"It's nearly ten and we've been looking since this afternoon." Severus pointed out direly.
"It is possible, she's off the grounds: either of her own accord or."
"Yes, dragged off."
"What do you think?" Remus followed the man down and around a corner.
"I think Georgie is capable of getting into trouble."
"You think that's what has happened here?"
"No. I don't. There's no reason for it."
"Why?"
"I don't know why." He shrugged in the darkness. "Intuition. Experience. Knowledge of human nature. Perhaps, it's wishful thinking." There was an edge of question in his voice.
Remus was taken aback: that was maybe one of the most unguarded personal statements Severus had ever admitted to within his hearing. "I hope so." Remus said, not daring to bring up the question of why or how she got to wherever she was..
By midnight the handful of staff were gathered in Dumbledore's office drinking tea and in some cases strong coffees. Dumbledore cleared his throat; "At this point I am inclined to think there has been foul play. We should put our heads together and figure out whom might have a reason for doing this or any gains. Also we'll need to discuss security if this was directed by an outside party." He looked at Severus. "I'm going to contact her parents and at least let them know that she's been missing for a full day now."
Severus shook his head and stared down his hooked nose at the headmaster, "No, I don't think we should be so hasty. She would have reasons against inciting undue worry for them."
Dumbledore, to Severus' great relief, paused then settled. "Yes, I see no reason why we couldn't postpone that task until tomorrow."
Minerva piped up, "If it were an outside party's doing, then wouldn't we have heard something from them by this time? Some demands, or gloating or a note?"
Remus answered, "That's assuming that they think as we do."
"Quite right. Some violence is just done for violence's sake." Severus spoke slowly and deliberately, as if it took effort. "No, we have to figure out first of all whether she's here or not. What methods could we test?"
Minerva jumped in, "Flitwick, Albus and I have all performed the positioning spell and locators, but nothing came of it--we saw nothing of her. Strange, but not all that uncommon. That almost would suggest that she's in the castle as there was the possible magical interference."
"Or that she's out of the castle and under much magical protection by way of hiding charms." Severus spat basely.
Minerva shot him a stern look, but continued, "Whichever it may be, I suggest we continue on through this castle before we tackle the much larger world, where we'll have no clue as to where to begin."
It was generally agreed upon and all resolved to stay as quiet as possible so as not to excite the student population. Dumbledore said he would make a vague and general announcement about exercising caution and not going off on one's own. He then gently suggested that the staff try and get some sleep, as there wasn't much more they could do now. It was too dark to look outside and Filch would systematically check out every place he knew of. Dumbledore realized that Severus and Remus wouldn't heed any of his suggestion, but he would have been much disappointed if they had.
As everyone left the room somberly, Dumbledore grabbed Minerva and held her back a little apart from the others, but not so that anyone else would have noticed. "How's Severus?"
"Not taking this very well. This is horrible--things always end up so like this for him. If this ends in tragedy like last time..he might really be lost then."
"I have every hope that we will find her." Dumbledore assured her. "His early friendship with Lily was a different sort of relationship--an illusion almost, one he unfortunately ended up jeopardizing."
Minerva frowned deeply. "Still, If everyone I cared for was always being taken from me, of course I'd sink down as he has done. I worry that this might be too much for him."
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Try and get some sleep. We must continue on as if normal." She nodded and held her head up as she passed out of his office.
Morning came and Georgie still hadn't come. Severus sat in the kitchens with a sleepy house-elf as the sun-rose. He felt ill--perhaps it was the lack of sleep. He drank some of the strong coffee Georgie used to prefer and nearly gagged. Still he drank the acid stuff. He got to his feet and walked to the passageway that would lead him to the Slytherin entranceway.
A hot shower would do him a world of good and maybe give some clarity to his mind. The steam rose and he hardly noticed as time passed and he stood there in the scalding spray. What they needed was some other way of pinpointing her location. Perhaps at noon he'd get off Hogwarts grounds and attempt the positioning and pointer spells, maybe then the interference wouldn't matter so. But if that didn't work, he was at a loss if that were to happen.
Hermione Granger had the gall to ask him if he were sick; he had snarled and perhaps shouted at her, but had forgotten to take points away. Yes, the class perceived that the Professors--all of them--were a bit out of sorts. Many wondered the reason, but as there wasn't any news in the Prophet and only the unspecific comment on safety-in-numbers from the headmaster, nothing was changed that they could discern.
Severus strode on, the staff were spending another tiring night of searching the castle over--Remus even suggesting that he take a look down in the Chamber of Secrets for good measure. Severus was on the fifth floor once more, going over the empty classrooms and cabinets there for anything. Filch had announced at a staff meeting that every room he could come across was searched. But this wasn't very conclusive as the castle was always changing and moving and blocking off certain areas.
Severus reported that his positioning and pointing attempts off of grounds were indeterminate: either there was still too much interference, she was covered by spells, or she was at the castle. Not very conclusive at all. Filch continued by remarking that it was possible she was in something--a wardrobe, a broom closet, behind something, under something--anything at all. No one dared asked how she could've gotten into a place like that. Severus ground his teeth when Trewlaney suggested that perhaps she was hiding for fun. Stupid fool.
Not much later the lanky Potions Professor was pressing on to the next classroom, going through dusty trunks and magically expanding wardrobes big enough for a grown man to step through. So far he'd only found dusty old parchments, several broken desks and some burned-out bookcases.
He hadn't allowed himself to talk with anyone for long, or to let his mind wander or analyze much. He preferred action to empty words, and so long as he kept busy, he felt she had a chance. Ridiculous thoughts, but what of them? If she were off of grounds she was most likely dead by now, so he hoped against hope that she was found at Hogwarts. He really wasn't up to inquiring among Death Eater circles for word of the witch; that would almost certainly yield unhappy news and draw unnecessary attention to himself.
He entered the next set of rooms, Oh Merlin; these were the storerooms. Every floor had a few of them. Hundreds of trunks and crates and boxes and whatnot were inside this room: impossible. He ran the length of it, listening for sounds or signs of anything amiss, but had to drag himself out of the room and on to the next. He felt time was running out.
In the corridor, he whirled around as he heard the sounds of light footsteps coming his way, he squinted through the darkness to see a girl coming at him.could it.No, it was Siobhan or Niamh.
"Professor!" It called out while it was still a long way off.
"What do you want?" He snarled. "As you can probably guess I'm very busy right now and I can't be bothered with your foolish running around out of bed."
"It's just," the girl colored, "Well, Niamh and I had an idea on how to find her. Well, if she's in Hogsmeade or Hogwarts at least."
He would humor her, but this was a waste of his time. "Alright, how? And make it fast."
"Send her an owl."
"Pardon?"
"An owl, send a letter to her, or a dozen. See, stealth owls could find her wherever she is right? You know how owls have their own special sort of intuition and magic--especially the stealth owls and the Ministry owls." Severus' mind was reeling. it might work! "So if we put a Professor on each floor or down each corridor then send an owl, someone's bound to see it and narrow down the floor. Then send all the professors up to that floor--"
"I'm seeing what you mean, all the professors on that floor, then narrow it down to the room, follow the birds inside the room, find her." He stared glass-eyed over her head, as if imagining. It wouldn't work if she were down a magically hidden corridor, but it was still something to do.action.
"Miss Malone, you're an asset to Slytherin. Go back to the Common Room and tell no one, I'll give you points in the morning for such clear thinking." He pushed her off in the direction she needed to go.
Severus however took off in the direction he needed to go in at almost a run.
An hour later Dumbledore stood in the Great Hall with a half dozen owls with scraps of paper addressed to George Flaing, Hogwarts, ready to be attached to their claws. The Professors and staff were all being utilized around the gigantic castle to stand and watch for the birds to fly in their directions. Doors had been flung open down nearly all the corridors allowing for easier passage of the birds, though it was quite unlikely anyone could keep up with a flying owl enough to determine the floor and the corridor and the room. Hence the many owls for the many attempts.
Dumbledore was to release one every five minutes or so, allowing the staff time to move around and readjust themselves. "Off you go," the snowy- haired man spoke to the first owl. "Find her."
He watched it circle and soar up higher and higher: either the owl was confused on how to exit the building or she was inside of it. A few minutes later he heard shouts and hoped that meant this was working.
Flitwick tried to lean over the banister to shout down that the owl had flow down to his floor, but he couldn't see over it no matter how he strained and stretched. So he raised his wand and sent a spray of sparks into the air a few feet above his head that whistled and crackled like a firecracker. Within seconds feet were bounding down the stairs and voices calling and shouting at one another. Madam Pince and Professor Trewlaney came running from the floor below and Remus swung across on a shifting staircase. Severus and Hagrid seemed to appear from thin air and they both boomed directions for half to go down the corridors on the right hand side, the other half was to go down the left ones.
They had barely done so when a flapping noise was heard and everyone waited in silence to see if it would come closer to them. After the fourth or fifth owl, ten people were now gathered around the open door to a room eager to step inside. The owls seemed a bit confused and were flying in circles around the ceiling of the room, which turned to be one of the numerous storerooms. In fact one of the larger ones.
Minerva stepped inside, "I knew we should have cleaned these out years ago." She whispered.
Severus stood in the center of the room "The owls can't help us anymore. We'll just have to go through everything in here."
Professor Sprout spoke up, "But there's only trunks and boxes and crates in here." Everyone was silent.
Minerva straightened her robes, "Well let's get started." She approached the first stack of trunks stacked eight high and taller than her head. She muttered a spell to lower the top one to the ground so she could go through it.
Professor Sprout kicked her way to the farthest corner in the room, brushing aside boxes and bins and loose books and parchments. The owl's had stopped circulating and landed beside her to watch her pick through the piles of junk and broken equipment. It didn't settle her nerves any though..
The others spread themselves around and did the same. The only sound was of doors and lids creaking, spells being muttered and locks being popped. No one dared to speak, and the silence was thick and heavy.
After not very long, Madam Pomfrey gasped and cried, "Oh my god!" Everyone stopped what they were doing and rushed to her side, looking over shoulders. What they were looking at was a trunk taken from the middle of a stack popped open to reveal a figure, twisted and stuffed into the box. They stood and stared down at the waxy and white-faced Georgie, her eyes closed and her body cold. Cries arose and Minerva and Sprout grabbed for each other' hands for support.
Severus pushed through and everyone stood back, even he couldn't believe his eyes. He reached down under her limp arms and waist and lifted her out of the trunk--such a small trunk! She lay across his black knee like a limp rag doll, her head rolled back and her arms fell away from her side. There were dried brown bloodstains on her head, on her arms and around her eyes and mouth.
Minerva ventured forward, tears in her eyes, "Is she.?"
"She's been in a box for nearly two days, nearly deprived of oxygen--it'd be a miracle." Severus grimaced. Madame Pomfrey took her wrist in her hand and felt for a second, then moved up to her throat. "Damn." Everyone seemed to take that for an answer and let out the breath they were holding and the tears began, though Madame Pomfrey was far from giving up.
"Wait!" Snape bellowed, planting his own finger on her throat. "Wait! I think she's alive!" Madame Pomfrey replanted her finger and assented her concurrence. He breathed heavily, Remus standing behind him and grasping his shoulder. He felt like he was underwater, it was all so surreal.
Madam Pomfrey noted, "Merlin's sake, we have to get her to a Hospital. I can't help her here."
Remus supported Severus as he lifted the cold figure into his arms and got to his feet.
Trewlaney frowned, "I'll dash to Dumbledore and get him to make a portkey for St. Mungo's." She didn't wait for anyone to reply but took off jingling at a literal run.
Minerva and Sprout walked behind Remus and Severus crying lightly to themselves, Pomfrey joined them, "She's been there for two days. I hate to think."
"Don't think about it. She's out and fine now." Flitwick squeaked from behind them, causing them all to turn.
"No, she's not," Pomfrey assessed. "She's not out of danger yet, and we haven't seen if there's to be any permanent damage."
Remus nodded back at them grimly, then turned to Georgie next to him, and attempted to clean away some of the blood from her face, so she didn't look so bad. He replaced her dangling arm in her lap gently and noticed something strange stuck to her back just under her neck. Remus as covertly as possible lifted it from her shirt and unfolded it. He looked at for a moment, then catching Severus eye held it out in front of the taller man, so only he could see it.
"On her?" Severus whispered.
"Yes," Remus sighed. "Let's not say anything about it now." Remus folded and slipped the note with the scrawl of a snake coming out of a skull's mouth into a pocket in his robe.
The last of the procession came down the last of the stairs; it seemed like it was taking an eternity. Dumbledore approached them, "So she is alive?" He asked, looking very weary.
"For now." Severus lifted her in his arms not even bothering with checking his voice or expression.
"I've sent an owl to St. Mungo's, but I'm afraid I can't lift the spells quickly enough guarding against the portkeys on grounds or apparation: after all that happened last year." He looked at the group, "He can portkey with her from Hogsmeade if someone would set it up." Remus cleared his throat and volunteered, taking leave immediately at a run.
Severus walked to the door. "I'll be back as soon as I can." Albus left the other staff behind as he stepped forward to hold the door for him.
"I understand. Now, just get her there." And Severus started out and down the hill.
Albus turned to the group, half of whom were crying. "First I must say that the cooperation shown tonight was like none I've ever seen. You are all to be most warmly commended. Secondly, however, I'm afraid that finding her wasn't the end of our troubles. If we could all convene for a few more minutes we should begin to discuss what has happened here and how to make sure this never happens again." He led the way out of the entrance hall.
Severus shifted her once again, she wasn't that heavy, a little heavy yes, but not much, he forced his mind to dwell on neutral subjects. She was just awkward, her arms and legs all flayed out in all directions--dead weight. She looked dead too, awful as that sounded to himself inside of his mind. She was so cold, several times he'd felt her arms and neck and face but each time she felt like ice. He gathered her up and held her closer. He knew how she hated to be cold.
He walked stiffly and determinedly, so as not to fall on the slick grass in the dark. He marched until he reached the gates of Hogwarts and saw Remus pacing just off the grounds. Heading directly for the man, Remus set something quite large on the ground in front of himself and waved his wand quickly about. Severus reached him at that moment, and Remus explained that the bicycle frame he had found was now a portkey to St. Mungo's, to which Severus nodded darkly in understanding.
Remus called out as he backed away, "I'm sorry Severus."
Severus looked at the man, "Be sorry for her." He looked at her a split second before touching the rusted metal and disappeared from sight.
Dumbledore passed a steaming cup across the table to Minerva who thanked him for it cheerfully. The woman at the window watching the snows and frost melt away and run off, joined the group seated around the central table. "Is Snape there today again?" Pomfrey asked as she sat herself down.
Remus Lupin smiled wearily, "Yes, he's gone there every single weekend and waited for her to come around. He's beating himself up over it." St. Mungo's had bandaged her, set her bones and got her body to behave normally- -all except for waking up.
"Going to run himself ragged if you ask me. Comas can last days or years, he can't just wait for forever." Madam Pomfrey sniffed.
Remus knitted his brows, "He's gong to find out who did it." He said with meaning and a hint of warning as well.
Dumbledore shook his head, "So long as he continues with his duties--all of his duties, which he has been--he can track down whomever he feels like tracking." Minerva looked at Dumbledore stealthily and frowned. "As long as he doesn't make this a sort of renegade, personal vendetta." Severus had returned from a Death Eaters meeting last week that had been raided by Aurors, foolish Aurors they turned out to be, who despite warnings, were heavily outnumbered. Snape had escaped scraped up a bit and so had most of the Aurors, but there were casualties on both sides. He walked with a noticeable limp for a three full days, before Pomfrey forced him to lie down so she could take care of a gash in his leg.
Professor Morgan, an elderly and hard-of-hearing witch who had taken over Professor Vector's vacant post spoke, "I think his devotion to his friend is admirable."
Everyone just smiled politely and wondered if Severus Snape was going mad and when would Georgie wake up.
Severus Snape sat on the edge of the cot the St. Mungo's staff always set up on weekends next to Miss George Flaing's bed. That was when the contemptible and despondent man would show up and wait. It was all rather pathetic and the staff felt very sorry for him, even more so as the weeks dragged on. It was always hard to watch those who just wouldn't give up.
Most days and the rare night he just lay there silently, going over in his mind how this could've happened, and more importantly who could have done it. His quest for information hit a wall when it came to inquiring among his fellow Death Eaters, and Remus suggested someone in the school might've done it. Severus knew several that were capable, but why would they? To hurt another Slytherin? They'd need a very good reason for that one. Only the young Malfoy had the influence to make others do it and only young Nott had the lunacy to try and pull it off on his own. Snape couldn't very well inquire about it among the Death Eaters either.
Severus blamed himself, though he couldn't quite figure out why, only that he should. He felt guilty. In the past he could always come up with some reason to turn it all around to make it his fault. If Hogwarts wasn't safe, then where was safe enough? What was the point to teaching her these many weeks defense and strategies and Dark Arts when she probably never even got a shot off?
She was, in a way, his responsibility. She looked out for him, so he had somehow failed in doing the same for her. He had allowed this to happen-- he had ignored the obvious signs. Severus ignored nagging thoughts trying to surface, thoughts that screamed at him that he'd felt the same things, thought the same thoughts.. Sometime before.But for someone else. But now wasn't the time to dwell on what happened back then, the horrible things that happened then and their outcomes. He had allowed too much then as well.
Also at the back of his mind he also recognized the possibility that she might never wake up, or if she did, what kind of life would she live? And if she died..he didn't know what he'd do. Lock himself in his dungeons and never see the light of day again, that sounded so familiar to him.
Author's note: Hello again, I'm here. Hmm, about the spacing, I'm not sure how to fix these stuffs. But I'll try. Some characters I type or styles don't translate well to FF.net Best I can do until I figure it out. OR someone lets me know how to (I'll try Mirei !). I'm happy people still read and review. Happy happy happy . Even not wonderful reviews, because at least I know people read it. And yes, I am Polynesian, so it's the closest of the Mary-sue thing you asked Eliza, but I'm too boring in life, so I can live through Georgie. BTW it takes me a looong time to edit things-I like doing it myself-but it does. I had maybe 15 chapters typed before I even started to post, so now it takes longer. Hmm, no romance, yea. Maybe at some point, but not for a long time, maybe in like story # 3, years from now If I'm not bored yet, but I don't write in that style. More fun to be friends with these two. Okay, now everyone go out and put in a Smiths CD and have fun.
Severus was known for his bad moods and inflicting his barbs on everyone who came into contact with him on these days, but many of the staff had forgotten this habit as they became fewer and fewer in number and occurrence.
Breakfast was strained at best and Minerva McGonagall wondered why. She worked it out so that she'd be waiting for him just outside of the doors afterwards to question him about it. She didn't know why she still bothered with that man..
She snagged Severus' sleeve and urged him to follow her to her office for a few moments of his time. He couldn't argue with good reason as he had quite a bit of time before his lesson, and she had a window, but argue he did anyway.
He plopped himself down in his chair and waited for her to begin, a look of amused contempt on his face.
"Oh, stop that Severus. You don't intimidate me anymore--never really had, you were always just a spoilt little boy. Now, suppose you tell me what's on your mind. You never were very good at hiding your irritations." He ignored her ridiculous assumptions that she could possibly understand him, and decided to indulge the woman just a little. It would be pointless to waste breath and time in arguing something that didn't concern him in the least.
"Georgie didn't show up last night. Went off and never returned."
Minerva frowned, "And you're sure of this? That's not allowed of Hogwarts students."
"She's got privileges, she can go where she chooses." He shrugged. "She last did rounds for me."
"Well, last night was Valentine's day, was it not.perhaps a boy she fancied." She tactfully stopped.
"Oh please," he spat. "Georgie hasn't a chance in hell at finding a boy like that--she's not fool enough. More than likely she's hung-over or run- away or done something equally as foolish."
"That's a very cold attitude." Minerva reprimanded. "She's not in her chamber?"
"I knocked, but there was no answer. It's not appropriate for me to go further than that without consent." Minerva nodded.
"Well, You have classes first off, but with your permission, I'll go and see if she's down there and try and talk with her. I doubt she's run-away or hung-over-the holiday's over, so stop being such a sulk." She looked down her nose at him.
He rose and drifted away without a second look towards the woman, his robes billowing out behind him like an angry black wake.
Minerva pushed open the door to Georgie's bedroom and looked in. It was hard to tell if Georgie had slept in her bed, as she surmised it was never made anyway. Her giant turtle was sleeping in a corner beneath a glowing foreign-looking lamp. Turning around, Minerva knew Georgie wasn't there so there wasn't any reason to dwell there any longer. She shut the door and carried herself out of Slytherin quarters. She would never understand how anyone could stand to live down there, Severus and foul-tempers aside. It was so cold and dismal; she shook herself to rid the feeling of damp and numbness from herself.
Minerva returned to her office and made herself up a cup of tea to chase away the chill and sat at her desk, not even glancing over The Daily Prophet opened in front of her. Severus was a fool to suggest Georgie had run-away or done something that foolish. No, if Georgie were gone she'd have gone for some other reason. It nettled her that Severus never considered that she might be in danger or injured. That had been the first thing in her mind, but then on second thought, perhaps Severus just couldn't own that he thought that way.
She sipped the scalding tea and set it down distastefully to let it cool. She couldn't bring this to Dumbledore--just not yet. If Georgie had done something foolhardy, Minerva hoped to shield the girl as long as she could. Bringing speculation about her when she only happened to be in the bath or out for a walk wouldn't help anything, Georgie would show up sooner or later.
The lunch meal came and Severus cornered Minerva as she made her way up to the table and to her regular place. He tried to look disinterested, but Minerva wasn't fooled. Still she played along. "Snape, she wasn't in her room nor anywhere else I could find. I truly thought she'd have turned up by now."
"I'm advising Albus of this." Minerva nodded at his words.
"That's probably a wise decision. He might have some insight we don't. She'll turn up though, she can handle herself." Minerva smiled and patted him on the arm before continuing on. As if he cared. Severus stayed glued to where he stood and watched as Minerva leaned in and spoke to Headmaster Dumbledore, and Albus' eyes turned with an unreadable look upon Severus. Severus wrenched himself around and continued up to his regular seat, he needed to eat didn't he?
He was glaring out over his glass at the sea of animated students in the room when he felt a tap at his back. Albus stood over him, "Georgie has not informed me of her plans, and as her things remain here it's most likely she's to return soon. Odd that she left no word, but it's not required. If she doesn't turn up by the end of your last lesson today I'll have Hagrid check the grounds and Filch the school." He gave an artificial smile and walked away.
He turned back to his food, yes, when last he saw her she was pleasant so she wouldn't do anything desperate. He tried to subscribe to everyone's hope that she would just turn up, but it didn't sound like her to be so secretive. And it wasn't like him to hold out hope.
Severus asked Siobhan and Niamh to stay behind after the class he'd just concluded with them. They hadn't any idea where she was and Siobhan was bold enough to question him on why he'd ask them when she lived by him. Severus wasn't in the mood, and he dismissed them curtly, parroting Minerva and Dumbledore in saying she'd turn up, so not to worry.
Severus slammed the door to the castle open with more force then he realized he'd put into it. He'd been with Hagrid in searching the grounds all the way to Hogsmeade, but Severus didn't care to wait around when Hagrid grimly announced all that there was left to search was the lake.
He excused himself and went in search of Filch. Severus detested Filch in every way, except that the man was the most blindly loyal and dutiful creature to walk the earth. People with that disposition were dangerous. Characteristics that Snape couldn't stand.
Severus came upon the man and the blasted cat of his just outside of the Library doors, eyeing students as they entered and exited and skirted about with their after-school twittering. Severus kept a low voice, "Found anything yet?"
"No sir," Filch wheezed. "She's not in the main part of the castle. She must've gotten off to a hardly used classroom or corridor if she's here." Or she's not on school grounds at all, Severus didn't add.
"Well, Hagrid will join us soon enough." Severus informed bitterly. "The sun's going down and he's almost conducted a thorough search outside."
Filch nodded. "I figured I'd start from the third floor and go on up from there. Are you coming along sir?"
Severus nodded and followed the man. "What do we do when something like this happens?"
Filch looked at him like he was mad, "It's never happened before. Mrs. Norris and I have usually found them out within an hour or so. Headmaster Dumbledore has a few suggestions if worse comes to worse, but so far his attempts at locating her with magic've failed." Severus could guess what Albus had attempted already.
And she accuses him of thinking negatively? How could one not?
Dinner came and went but several members of the staff were unmistakably missing from the head table, though only two students really thought that anything important might be going on.
Remus and Severus lifted magical torches to peer into a deserted passageway behind a wall in the library. They'd made sure all students were out of sight and earshot before slipping through the narrow opening.
"How is it I've never had the privilege of coming here before?" His dark eyes darted up at the roughly hewn walls and underfoot.
Severus wasn't up to Remus' attempts to be lighthearted; he would appreciate it better after all was settled, but not now.
"It's nearly ten and we've been looking since this afternoon." Severus pointed out direly.
"It is possible, she's off the grounds: either of her own accord or."
"Yes, dragged off."
"What do you think?" Remus followed the man down and around a corner.
"I think Georgie is capable of getting into trouble."
"You think that's what has happened here?"
"No. I don't. There's no reason for it."
"Why?"
"I don't know why." He shrugged in the darkness. "Intuition. Experience. Knowledge of human nature. Perhaps, it's wishful thinking." There was an edge of question in his voice.
Remus was taken aback: that was maybe one of the most unguarded personal statements Severus had ever admitted to within his hearing. "I hope so." Remus said, not daring to bring up the question of why or how she got to wherever she was..
By midnight the handful of staff were gathered in Dumbledore's office drinking tea and in some cases strong coffees. Dumbledore cleared his throat; "At this point I am inclined to think there has been foul play. We should put our heads together and figure out whom might have a reason for doing this or any gains. Also we'll need to discuss security if this was directed by an outside party." He looked at Severus. "I'm going to contact her parents and at least let them know that she's been missing for a full day now."
Severus shook his head and stared down his hooked nose at the headmaster, "No, I don't think we should be so hasty. She would have reasons against inciting undue worry for them."
Dumbledore, to Severus' great relief, paused then settled. "Yes, I see no reason why we couldn't postpone that task until tomorrow."
Minerva piped up, "If it were an outside party's doing, then wouldn't we have heard something from them by this time? Some demands, or gloating or a note?"
Remus answered, "That's assuming that they think as we do."
"Quite right. Some violence is just done for violence's sake." Severus spoke slowly and deliberately, as if it took effort. "No, we have to figure out first of all whether she's here or not. What methods could we test?"
Minerva jumped in, "Flitwick, Albus and I have all performed the positioning spell and locators, but nothing came of it--we saw nothing of her. Strange, but not all that uncommon. That almost would suggest that she's in the castle as there was the possible magical interference."
"Or that she's out of the castle and under much magical protection by way of hiding charms." Severus spat basely.
Minerva shot him a stern look, but continued, "Whichever it may be, I suggest we continue on through this castle before we tackle the much larger world, where we'll have no clue as to where to begin."
It was generally agreed upon and all resolved to stay as quiet as possible so as not to excite the student population. Dumbledore said he would make a vague and general announcement about exercising caution and not going off on one's own. He then gently suggested that the staff try and get some sleep, as there wasn't much more they could do now. It was too dark to look outside and Filch would systematically check out every place he knew of. Dumbledore realized that Severus and Remus wouldn't heed any of his suggestion, but he would have been much disappointed if they had.
As everyone left the room somberly, Dumbledore grabbed Minerva and held her back a little apart from the others, but not so that anyone else would have noticed. "How's Severus?"
"Not taking this very well. This is horrible--things always end up so like this for him. If this ends in tragedy like last time..he might really be lost then."
"I have every hope that we will find her." Dumbledore assured her. "His early friendship with Lily was a different sort of relationship--an illusion almost, one he unfortunately ended up jeopardizing."
Minerva frowned deeply. "Still, If everyone I cared for was always being taken from me, of course I'd sink down as he has done. I worry that this might be too much for him."
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Try and get some sleep. We must continue on as if normal." She nodded and held her head up as she passed out of his office.
Morning came and Georgie still hadn't come. Severus sat in the kitchens with a sleepy house-elf as the sun-rose. He felt ill--perhaps it was the lack of sleep. He drank some of the strong coffee Georgie used to prefer and nearly gagged. Still he drank the acid stuff. He got to his feet and walked to the passageway that would lead him to the Slytherin entranceway.
A hot shower would do him a world of good and maybe give some clarity to his mind. The steam rose and he hardly noticed as time passed and he stood there in the scalding spray. What they needed was some other way of pinpointing her location. Perhaps at noon he'd get off Hogwarts grounds and attempt the positioning and pointer spells, maybe then the interference wouldn't matter so. But if that didn't work, he was at a loss if that were to happen.
Hermione Granger had the gall to ask him if he were sick; he had snarled and perhaps shouted at her, but had forgotten to take points away. Yes, the class perceived that the Professors--all of them--were a bit out of sorts. Many wondered the reason, but as there wasn't any news in the Prophet and only the unspecific comment on safety-in-numbers from the headmaster, nothing was changed that they could discern.
Severus strode on, the staff were spending another tiring night of searching the castle over--Remus even suggesting that he take a look down in the Chamber of Secrets for good measure. Severus was on the fifth floor once more, going over the empty classrooms and cabinets there for anything. Filch had announced at a staff meeting that every room he could come across was searched. But this wasn't very conclusive as the castle was always changing and moving and blocking off certain areas.
Severus reported that his positioning and pointing attempts off of grounds were indeterminate: either there was still too much interference, she was covered by spells, or she was at the castle. Not very conclusive at all. Filch continued by remarking that it was possible she was in something--a wardrobe, a broom closet, behind something, under something--anything at all. No one dared asked how she could've gotten into a place like that. Severus ground his teeth when Trewlaney suggested that perhaps she was hiding for fun. Stupid fool.
Not much later the lanky Potions Professor was pressing on to the next classroom, going through dusty trunks and magically expanding wardrobes big enough for a grown man to step through. So far he'd only found dusty old parchments, several broken desks and some burned-out bookcases.
He hadn't allowed himself to talk with anyone for long, or to let his mind wander or analyze much. He preferred action to empty words, and so long as he kept busy, he felt she had a chance. Ridiculous thoughts, but what of them? If she were off of grounds she was most likely dead by now, so he hoped against hope that she was found at Hogwarts. He really wasn't up to inquiring among Death Eater circles for word of the witch; that would almost certainly yield unhappy news and draw unnecessary attention to himself.
He entered the next set of rooms, Oh Merlin; these were the storerooms. Every floor had a few of them. Hundreds of trunks and crates and boxes and whatnot were inside this room: impossible. He ran the length of it, listening for sounds or signs of anything amiss, but had to drag himself out of the room and on to the next. He felt time was running out.
In the corridor, he whirled around as he heard the sounds of light footsteps coming his way, he squinted through the darkness to see a girl coming at him.could it.No, it was Siobhan or Niamh.
"Professor!" It called out while it was still a long way off.
"What do you want?" He snarled. "As you can probably guess I'm very busy right now and I can't be bothered with your foolish running around out of bed."
"It's just," the girl colored, "Well, Niamh and I had an idea on how to find her. Well, if she's in Hogsmeade or Hogwarts at least."
He would humor her, but this was a waste of his time. "Alright, how? And make it fast."
"Send her an owl."
"Pardon?"
"An owl, send a letter to her, or a dozen. See, stealth owls could find her wherever she is right? You know how owls have their own special sort of intuition and magic--especially the stealth owls and the Ministry owls." Severus' mind was reeling. it might work! "So if we put a Professor on each floor or down each corridor then send an owl, someone's bound to see it and narrow down the floor. Then send all the professors up to that floor--"
"I'm seeing what you mean, all the professors on that floor, then narrow it down to the room, follow the birds inside the room, find her." He stared glass-eyed over her head, as if imagining. It wouldn't work if she were down a magically hidden corridor, but it was still something to do.action.
"Miss Malone, you're an asset to Slytherin. Go back to the Common Room and tell no one, I'll give you points in the morning for such clear thinking." He pushed her off in the direction she needed to go.
Severus however took off in the direction he needed to go in at almost a run.
An hour later Dumbledore stood in the Great Hall with a half dozen owls with scraps of paper addressed to George Flaing, Hogwarts, ready to be attached to their claws. The Professors and staff were all being utilized around the gigantic castle to stand and watch for the birds to fly in their directions. Doors had been flung open down nearly all the corridors allowing for easier passage of the birds, though it was quite unlikely anyone could keep up with a flying owl enough to determine the floor and the corridor and the room. Hence the many owls for the many attempts.
Dumbledore was to release one every five minutes or so, allowing the staff time to move around and readjust themselves. "Off you go," the snowy- haired man spoke to the first owl. "Find her."
He watched it circle and soar up higher and higher: either the owl was confused on how to exit the building or she was inside of it. A few minutes later he heard shouts and hoped that meant this was working.
Flitwick tried to lean over the banister to shout down that the owl had flow down to his floor, but he couldn't see over it no matter how he strained and stretched. So he raised his wand and sent a spray of sparks into the air a few feet above his head that whistled and crackled like a firecracker. Within seconds feet were bounding down the stairs and voices calling and shouting at one another. Madam Pince and Professor Trewlaney came running from the floor below and Remus swung across on a shifting staircase. Severus and Hagrid seemed to appear from thin air and they both boomed directions for half to go down the corridors on the right hand side, the other half was to go down the left ones.
They had barely done so when a flapping noise was heard and everyone waited in silence to see if it would come closer to them. After the fourth or fifth owl, ten people were now gathered around the open door to a room eager to step inside. The owls seemed a bit confused and were flying in circles around the ceiling of the room, which turned to be one of the numerous storerooms. In fact one of the larger ones.
Minerva stepped inside, "I knew we should have cleaned these out years ago." She whispered.
Severus stood in the center of the room "The owls can't help us anymore. We'll just have to go through everything in here."
Professor Sprout spoke up, "But there's only trunks and boxes and crates in here." Everyone was silent.
Minerva straightened her robes, "Well let's get started." She approached the first stack of trunks stacked eight high and taller than her head. She muttered a spell to lower the top one to the ground so she could go through it.
Professor Sprout kicked her way to the farthest corner in the room, brushing aside boxes and bins and loose books and parchments. The owl's had stopped circulating and landed beside her to watch her pick through the piles of junk and broken equipment. It didn't settle her nerves any though..
The others spread themselves around and did the same. The only sound was of doors and lids creaking, spells being muttered and locks being popped. No one dared to speak, and the silence was thick and heavy.
After not very long, Madam Pomfrey gasped and cried, "Oh my god!" Everyone stopped what they were doing and rushed to her side, looking over shoulders. What they were looking at was a trunk taken from the middle of a stack popped open to reveal a figure, twisted and stuffed into the box. They stood and stared down at the waxy and white-faced Georgie, her eyes closed and her body cold. Cries arose and Minerva and Sprout grabbed for each other' hands for support.
Severus pushed through and everyone stood back, even he couldn't believe his eyes. He reached down under her limp arms and waist and lifted her out of the trunk--such a small trunk! She lay across his black knee like a limp rag doll, her head rolled back and her arms fell away from her side. There were dried brown bloodstains on her head, on her arms and around her eyes and mouth.
Minerva ventured forward, tears in her eyes, "Is she.?"
"She's been in a box for nearly two days, nearly deprived of oxygen--it'd be a miracle." Severus grimaced. Madame Pomfrey took her wrist in her hand and felt for a second, then moved up to her throat. "Damn." Everyone seemed to take that for an answer and let out the breath they were holding and the tears began, though Madame Pomfrey was far from giving up.
"Wait!" Snape bellowed, planting his own finger on her throat. "Wait! I think she's alive!" Madame Pomfrey replanted her finger and assented her concurrence. He breathed heavily, Remus standing behind him and grasping his shoulder. He felt like he was underwater, it was all so surreal.
Madam Pomfrey noted, "Merlin's sake, we have to get her to a Hospital. I can't help her here."
Remus supported Severus as he lifted the cold figure into his arms and got to his feet.
Trewlaney frowned, "I'll dash to Dumbledore and get him to make a portkey for St. Mungo's." She didn't wait for anyone to reply but took off jingling at a literal run.
Minerva and Sprout walked behind Remus and Severus crying lightly to themselves, Pomfrey joined them, "She's been there for two days. I hate to think."
"Don't think about it. She's out and fine now." Flitwick squeaked from behind them, causing them all to turn.
"No, she's not," Pomfrey assessed. "She's not out of danger yet, and we haven't seen if there's to be any permanent damage."
Remus nodded back at them grimly, then turned to Georgie next to him, and attempted to clean away some of the blood from her face, so she didn't look so bad. He replaced her dangling arm in her lap gently and noticed something strange stuck to her back just under her neck. Remus as covertly as possible lifted it from her shirt and unfolded it. He looked at for a moment, then catching Severus eye held it out in front of the taller man, so only he could see it.
"On her?" Severus whispered.
"Yes," Remus sighed. "Let's not say anything about it now." Remus folded and slipped the note with the scrawl of a snake coming out of a skull's mouth into a pocket in his robe.
The last of the procession came down the last of the stairs; it seemed like it was taking an eternity. Dumbledore approached them, "So she is alive?" He asked, looking very weary.
"For now." Severus lifted her in his arms not even bothering with checking his voice or expression.
"I've sent an owl to St. Mungo's, but I'm afraid I can't lift the spells quickly enough guarding against the portkeys on grounds or apparation: after all that happened last year." He looked at the group, "He can portkey with her from Hogsmeade if someone would set it up." Remus cleared his throat and volunteered, taking leave immediately at a run.
Severus walked to the door. "I'll be back as soon as I can." Albus left the other staff behind as he stepped forward to hold the door for him.
"I understand. Now, just get her there." And Severus started out and down the hill.
Albus turned to the group, half of whom were crying. "First I must say that the cooperation shown tonight was like none I've ever seen. You are all to be most warmly commended. Secondly, however, I'm afraid that finding her wasn't the end of our troubles. If we could all convene for a few more minutes we should begin to discuss what has happened here and how to make sure this never happens again." He led the way out of the entrance hall.
Severus shifted her once again, she wasn't that heavy, a little heavy yes, but not much, he forced his mind to dwell on neutral subjects. She was just awkward, her arms and legs all flayed out in all directions--dead weight. She looked dead too, awful as that sounded to himself inside of his mind. She was so cold, several times he'd felt her arms and neck and face but each time she felt like ice. He gathered her up and held her closer. He knew how she hated to be cold.
He walked stiffly and determinedly, so as not to fall on the slick grass in the dark. He marched until he reached the gates of Hogwarts and saw Remus pacing just off the grounds. Heading directly for the man, Remus set something quite large on the ground in front of himself and waved his wand quickly about. Severus reached him at that moment, and Remus explained that the bicycle frame he had found was now a portkey to St. Mungo's, to which Severus nodded darkly in understanding.
Remus called out as he backed away, "I'm sorry Severus."
Severus looked at the man, "Be sorry for her." He looked at her a split second before touching the rusted metal and disappeared from sight.
Dumbledore passed a steaming cup across the table to Minerva who thanked him for it cheerfully. The woman at the window watching the snows and frost melt away and run off, joined the group seated around the central table. "Is Snape there today again?" Pomfrey asked as she sat herself down.
Remus Lupin smiled wearily, "Yes, he's gone there every single weekend and waited for her to come around. He's beating himself up over it." St. Mungo's had bandaged her, set her bones and got her body to behave normally- -all except for waking up.
"Going to run himself ragged if you ask me. Comas can last days or years, he can't just wait for forever." Madam Pomfrey sniffed.
Remus knitted his brows, "He's gong to find out who did it." He said with meaning and a hint of warning as well.
Dumbledore shook his head, "So long as he continues with his duties--all of his duties, which he has been--he can track down whomever he feels like tracking." Minerva looked at Dumbledore stealthily and frowned. "As long as he doesn't make this a sort of renegade, personal vendetta." Severus had returned from a Death Eaters meeting last week that had been raided by Aurors, foolish Aurors they turned out to be, who despite warnings, were heavily outnumbered. Snape had escaped scraped up a bit and so had most of the Aurors, but there were casualties on both sides. He walked with a noticeable limp for a three full days, before Pomfrey forced him to lie down so she could take care of a gash in his leg.
Professor Morgan, an elderly and hard-of-hearing witch who had taken over Professor Vector's vacant post spoke, "I think his devotion to his friend is admirable."
Everyone just smiled politely and wondered if Severus Snape was going mad and when would Georgie wake up.
Severus Snape sat on the edge of the cot the St. Mungo's staff always set up on weekends next to Miss George Flaing's bed. That was when the contemptible and despondent man would show up and wait. It was all rather pathetic and the staff felt very sorry for him, even more so as the weeks dragged on. It was always hard to watch those who just wouldn't give up.
Most days and the rare night he just lay there silently, going over in his mind how this could've happened, and more importantly who could have done it. His quest for information hit a wall when it came to inquiring among his fellow Death Eaters, and Remus suggested someone in the school might've done it. Severus knew several that were capable, but why would they? To hurt another Slytherin? They'd need a very good reason for that one. Only the young Malfoy had the influence to make others do it and only young Nott had the lunacy to try and pull it off on his own. Snape couldn't very well inquire about it among the Death Eaters either.
Severus blamed himself, though he couldn't quite figure out why, only that he should. He felt guilty. In the past he could always come up with some reason to turn it all around to make it his fault. If Hogwarts wasn't safe, then where was safe enough? What was the point to teaching her these many weeks defense and strategies and Dark Arts when she probably never even got a shot off?
She was, in a way, his responsibility. She looked out for him, so he had somehow failed in doing the same for her. He had allowed this to happen-- he had ignored the obvious signs. Severus ignored nagging thoughts trying to surface, thoughts that screamed at him that he'd felt the same things, thought the same thoughts.. Sometime before.But for someone else. But now wasn't the time to dwell on what happened back then, the horrible things that happened then and their outcomes. He had allowed too much then as well.
Also at the back of his mind he also recognized the possibility that she might never wake up, or if she did, what kind of life would she live? And if she died..he didn't know what he'd do. Lock himself in his dungeons and never see the light of day again, that sounded so familiar to him.