The irritation that had been brewing in Snape since returning with Miss Jones in late August had reached its boiling point in Hogsmeade. He had never imagined that it would come to this: manhandling her and marching her, at wandpoint, to the Headmaster's office. But, it had.
A certain amount of satisfaction puffed up Snape's chest as he ushered Miss Jones into the office. However, he was deflated by the smug look on her face when Dumbledore instructed Snape to apologise. Kicking himself mentally for his loss of composure, Snape begrudgingly offered his version of an apology to Susan. "I regret having used my wand to bring you in," Severus said in a low tone to Susan.
"Not bloody likely," she retorted.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Would you kindly tell me why you are both here, today?"
"I found Miss Jones consorting with werewolves in Hogsmeade this afternoon, Headmaster. She has flouted your rules for her safety," Snape reported. Dumbledore's lips tightened. He looked to Susan.
"Albus, I know you have your reasons for asking me to remain hidden in the school, but I think it's time that some changes were made," Susan explained. "I have grown weary of confinement—and of having Snape spy on me." She shot Snape a look of reproach.
Dumbledore asked, "To what sort of changes are you referring?"
Susan's answer was indirect. "I am considering a few minor modifications. I think it would be easier for me, and for all parties concerned, to phase in the changes gradually," she replied.
"Are you certain, my dear? In my opinion, a complete transformation would do you the most good."
Snape drummed his fingers on the desk. More riddles and vague references. "Headmaster, must you speak in such obscure terms? I wish to know what is transpiring here," Snape persisted.
"In due time," Albus replied. "Now, Susan, what do you require? I am still in possession of your wand."
She shook her head. "The wand is not necessary."
"Her wand? Headmaster, you told me that Susan Jones was not a witch, yet she has a wand?"
"Patience, Professor Snape," Dumbledore advised. "What, then, will you need?" he inquired again of Susan.
"I require a potion." She looked at Snape before noting, "I will help make it, of course."
This was too much for Severus Snape. "I don't know what is going on here," he hissed, "but I don't need help from anyone in my laboratory!" After a brief moment to calm himself, he added, "Especially not from a woman who answers my questions with recipes!"
"Since when is Legilimency a question?" Susan asked angrily.
"Perhaps you would prefer Veritaserum?"
"Perhaps you would prefer a swift kick to your arse?" Susan yelled.
"That will be quite enough," Dumbledore said firmly. "Severus, I rely on you to make the potion for Miss Jones, accepting her help as necessary. And you, Susan, you will kindly keep both your feet away from my Potions master."
Snape stood up and adjusted his robes. "I require answers to my questions before I agree to anything."
"Tell him what he needs to know, Albus. I really don't want to be here when you do it, though." Susan stood, preparing to leave, but remembered to ask, "Albus, do you still have the bottle of blood I left in your possession?"
An eerie silence fell over the room after Susan's question. Snape pricked up his ears, waiting for the answer. Blood. There are many potions requiring blood, most of them illegal--or should be. Instead of speaking, Dumbledore unlocked a drawer in his desk. He extracted a silver box, and then locked and applied a sealing charm to the drawer. All the while, Snape was remembering, The last time I used blood in a potion was at the command of the Dark Lord. The number of deaths attributed to that potion was nine, though it would have been ten if I had not dropped the last dose. The last dose was intended for Dumbledore.
"When blood is involved, I must insist that you tell me what is going on," Snape said flatly.
Susan sat down. She said sadly, "You'll know soon enough."
Dumbledore placed the box on his desktop with care. "You will find everything in order," he assured Susan.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before reaching for the box and drawing it onto her lap. Her fingers roved in slow, tentative circles around the lid, and then down to the latch. "The charm is still intact," she whispered. She looked up at Dumbledore.
"Are you ready to open it?" Albus asked gently.
"Pandora's box," she muttered.
"You need not be afraid that hope will escape, leaving behind the evils of the past," Dumbledore said.
Once again, Snape grew angry. "Open the blasted box," he said.
"Albus, please remove the charm," Susan agreed.
The elderly wizard placed his wand on the box and invoked, "Patesco!" There was a sharp, clicking noise. Snape stood behind Susan as she opened the lid.
The contents of the silver box were neatly displayed on a black velvet lining. A dark red wand lay on the diagonal that divided the box into two right triangles. A small crushed-velvet bag sat atop a stack of parchment in the centre of one triangle. The other contained four phials. Three were of little interest to the Potions master; it was the fourth that caught his eye: the blood.
Susan shut the box and stood up. "Thank you, Sir. I am going to my rooms now," she said to Dumbledore in a strained tone.
"The house-elves will bring you your evening meal," he replied. "When you have had some time to prepare, please send for me, and I will help with the arrangements." She forced a smile, then proceeded out the door.
Dumbledore turned his attention to Snape. "I was not lying when I said that Susan Jones is no witch. You see, Severus, there is no Susan Jones."
"If so," Snape countered, "who was that?"
"You ask a complex question, Severus."
Oh, for the love of Merlin! "Albus, start with a name."
"Did you ever wonder what it would be like to be the average of everyone, Severus?"
"No."
"When you first met Miss Jones, of whom did she remind you?"
"Albus…" Snape warned. "No one? Everyone? There never was a Susan Jones," Dumbledore revealed. "Put another way, the woman we know by that name does not exist." He sat back wearily in his chair. "A member of her family introduced her to me just over seven years ago. She does not trust herself enough to use a wand, so she is defenceless against many forms of magic; however, she knows her way around a Potions lab and, if you give her half a chance, you may learn something from her."
"That remains to be seen," Snape sniffed. "Why did she go into hiding?"
"I cannot tell you that. It is up to her to do so. And, I think it is time for you to return to your office. Miss Jones will be waiting there, I suspect."
Snape huffed, "This conversation has been most unenlightening."
"Patience, my boy," Albus said brightly. "Oh, I nearly forgot." He reached into his top drawer and produced a bundle of letters and parchment. "Please see that Miss Jones receives these."
She will, after I have read them. With a slight bow, Severus excused himself.
Snape dropped the bundle of letters on his desk. He fetched a glass of brandy and a flagon of headache-relieving potion before lighting a fire and settling into his chair. With a wave of his wand and a simple incantation, he probed the papers for charms, only to find there were none.
The first envelope held a letter.
Dear Professor Dumbledore,
My concern for her is growing. The last time we spoke, she warned me that I was in danger and advised me not to come to her again. She assures me that no one knows--but how long she can keep it a secret?
I tried to persuade her that she is in danger, but she refuses to listen and continues to see him. She has always been entranced with the Dark Arts and I do not think she realises what his true nature is, as her love clouds her judgement. She is besotted with him.
His brother is putting pressure on him to end the relationship. If he discovers that she is not a Pureblood, I fear the worst will happen.
Luckily, Father is indisposed and in deepest seclusion. Even if he were found, he would be unable to answer questions.
I need her. Please, what can I do? His grip on her is so strong.
Sincerely,
S
Snape opened the next letter.
Dear Professor Dumbledore,
I met with her again, today, in our usual place. Physically, she seems better than the last time, but I can see fear and anguish in her eyes despite her brave words. She says that she will change him into the man she wants him to be, but she is the one who has changed. My cousin said that love is blind; in this case, he is utterly correct.
We are no longer two of a kind. I am lost without her, Professor. Every time we meet, I can only catch glimpses of the woman I have known all my life.
Please, I think he is going to kill her. What must I do?
Regards,
S
The third letter was short, and was written in a firmer hand.
Albus, She has agreed to leave him! I am going to retrieve her. I will bring her to Hogwarts as you instructed. I have waited for this day for over three years. We will see you, soon.
With hope,
S
P.S. Tell my cousin to meet me in your office a week from tomorrow. I look forward to seeing you both.
Snape put the letters back into their envelopes and finished his brandy. From what he had read so far, he concluded that the woman to whom the letters were referring had fallen victim to the blandishments of a dangerous cad. Albus had offered help to the author of the letters by providing the first woman with a safe haven. S --could stand for Susan. If so, then why was she the one in hiding? The subject of the letters sounded like the one who needed help and protection, not the author.
There was a knock on his office door.
"Enter." He put the stack of papers in his drawer and looked up. "Ah, Miss Jones. I have been expecting you."
She stood wavering in the doorway for the longest time, deciding whether or not to enter. Snape stared at her haughtily. He sat stiffly erect with his arms crossed over his chest and his long, hooked nose held high in the air. Haltingly, one step at a time, Susan ventured into the Potions master's office.
"I assume, since you greet me this way, Albus failed to tell you all you wanted to know." She joined Snape at his desk. "All right, Professor Snape. I will tell you more—but you must keep what I say in confidence."
"I have given Albus my word," he stated firmly.
"My name is not Susan Jones." Snape was unimpressed. "My name was Maria Santiago, and I was a witch."
"Miss Santiago, you may have changed your name, but you cannot change the fact that you are a witch. That is a lifelong fact."
"You are correct, but only in part," she allowed. "I retain some small skill at Potions."
Snape raised a dubious eyebrow. He went on with his questions. "Why did you continue your charade once we arrived at Hogwarts?"
"Susan Jones is no danger to anyone," she informed him.
"Ha!" Snape barked out. Dratted woman! "Miss Santiago, if we could--"
"It's Susan," she insisted, "or Miss Jones, Professor Snape. Perhaps, at a later date, I will introduce myself to you properly, but now is not that time."
Severus opened the drawer and drew out the three letters he had read earlier. When he looked up at her, she showed no reaction. "I presume these belong to you."
He handed them to her. She shrugged her shoulders and replied, "I've never seen them before." Nonchalantly, she placed them on the desk in front of her and addressed Snape. "I think we need to talk about the potion I mentioned in Dumbledore's office. You wanted to know about the blood."
"It has been my experience that most potions requiring the use of blood are used for Dark magic."
"Spot on, I suppose. But, you may believe me when I say I'm not trying to brew a potion to cause death."
"I really don't know what to believe when it concerns you," Snape said.
Susan sighed, and then leaned across the desk. "I intend to brew a person."
Albus Dumbledore had written the letter and given it to the owl earlier in the day. He knew Susan would not be pleased, but he had done it for her own good. The Aurors would find out soon enough and she would need all the support she could muster. He hadn't betrayed the Fidelius Charm in writing to Lupin because Remus was already involved. Susan had already spoken to him, and apparently he had enjoyed her company, though he did not know about Maria. In time, he will remember the love. He will learn to forgive and to accept what has happened.
"Fawkes, old boy," Dumbledore quipped to his phoenix, "you and Miss Jones have much in common."
oooooooo
The letter arrived early the next morning while its recipient was alone in the kitchen.
"Hello," Lupin said, taking the letter and giving the owl a piece of toast. "You're a surprise. I haven't heard from Albus in ages."
Dear Remus,
I hope this letter finds you well. (A simple Reparo! should fix it.) …'
"What?" Lupin muttered.
Just then, the owl knocked over the sugar bowl, sending it crashing to the ground. Remus shook his head and grumbled, "Bloody Legilimens," then continued to read.
…I bring you news (I am glad you are sitting down) of Maria. She is alive and well and currently staying at Hogwarts. I know this news comes as a shock, but I assure you she will explain in due time. She was able to formulate an effective disguise and has been safely hidden since she stopped communicating with us nearly six years ago. The Ministry has reopened its investigation of the Nott Murders. I fear that Maria will indeed have to stand trial. She needs you, Remus, now more than ever. I would like to meet with you in the usual place, today if possible. There is no need to reply; I will know when you arrive.
With great anticipation,
Albus Dumbledore
P.S. I understand you have met our professors' assistant, Miss Jones. I do hope you become better acquainted. I think the two of you will get on smashingly.
As Remus read the last line, the paper went up in flames. He shook his head and stood, left the kitchen, and walked into the study. Lupin gazed pensively at an old photo. It was a picture taken shortly after he had finished at Hogwarts. His parents were there, along with his aunt and uncle. They were there, too, one to either side of him, holding his hands and smiling up at him proudly.
Back in the dungeons, it was stalemate. The Potions master leaned halfway across his desk, scowling, trying his best to intimidate the woman into telling the truth. Susan would not yield easily, as Snape had assumed. Staring into those eyes of hers brought many questions to his mind.
"Did I hear you correctly? Did you say you are trying to brew a person?
"I thought that might get your attention," she said with a smirk.
"Explain yourself," Snape demanded.
"All right," Susan sang out. "Formulation: Susan Jones." She took the opportunity to pause dramatically. She then stood, and began to explain in her way.
"Remove the individuality from the individual:
Choose a common name, nothing unique and nothing foreign.
The height must be statistically correct.
Eye colour and hair colour fit into the equation.
Physique should be average, according to the tables.
Averages, medians, modes, means, the middle--
More of her means less of me.
"Find a new place to live.
Look for a niche in which to hide.
Forget magic and family and friends.
Conceal, bury, overlook.
Say little.
Averages, medians, modes, means, the middle--
Add some of her and subtract some of me!
"Seek solitude.
Observe, scrutinize, minimize.
Never try to connect or succeed.
Averages, medians, modes, means, the middle--
Insert pieces of her and deduct some of me.
The sum is the same,
But the total is less."
Snape interjected, "What are you going on about?"
"Allow me to finish?" she asked.
"By all means, but do try and make some sense."
"Thank you, Professor. Now, where was I? Ah yes...from my blood to my bones, I have been replaced by Susan Jones."
As she finished, Susan took a deep bow, bending completely in half. Then, she lifted her head to study Severus Snape's reaction.
All Snape could say was, "Get the hell out of my office."
A/N: Thank you, S! You are an amazing Beta.