Disclaimer: All Harry Potter people, places, things, and ideas (all Harry Potter nouns) belong to J. K. Rowlings. All Elf-related topics, the Elvish language, references to staff magic, and any other Lord of the Rings nouns belong to J. R. R. Tolkien and the Elvish dictionary at Nevrast. The titles of the chapters were inspired by "Once Upon a December" from the cartoon movie Anastasia. Professor Heryn O'Sheen is mine. A function from Microsoft Word is alluded to.
Chapter 3: Far away, long ago.
Mortified, she attempted to squirm out of his grasp. "Professor Snape, what are you doing? Who is Heryn?"
He let her go, but locked his eyes with hers, scrutinizing her. "Heryn, it's been so long. I need to know what happened to you. I see you standing here before me, but this is impossible. I saw you fall in the battle. I should have known something was out of place eight years ago when we couldn't find your body."
After his shocking declaration, her breath caught in her throat and confusion filled her eyes. "I'm so sorry. I really don't know whom or what you are talking about. I woke up in a muggle hospital bed eight years ago and I don't remember anything that happened before that moment. They couldn't find my family or any other information to my identity so I've been going by 'Moira.' I deduced that they were muggles when they found my wand and asked me about Halloween. I have spent these past years working in Wales, studying and reconstructing Middle Earth history."
"What did they think of your ears?" he inquired, taking a step toward her.
She raised an eyebrow. "They simply figured that the ears were an odd family trait."
"I suppose that idea worked because you are only half-Elvish. You must have gotten amnesia from your injuries or you would have come back," he deduced.
She took a deep breath, wondering for a moment what the Potions Master wanted from her. "Are you implying that I used to live here?"
"I am not implying that you used to live here; I'm telling you that this place was once your home," he commented.
Her brow furrowed. "Please excuse my confusion. This is a bit much to swallow. I've wondered about my previous life, but I never expected to simply walk into it. Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall did not tell me much, but what you have just revealed would explain the strange way they looked at me when I first arrived."
"You cannot remember anything past the hospital?" he probed.
She shook her head and sighed. "I have no idea who I was before I woke up. You seem to know though. I admit that you have my curiosity; care to enlighten a very befuddled Elf?"
That phrase was a favourite of hers. She still has the same expressions, yet she doesn't remember, he thought to himself. "You were Professor Heryn O'Sheen, Potions Mistress at Hogwarts. You took over when the other Potions Master retired during my seventh year and you were the only…" he trailed off, debating how much he should tell her.
She had been listening patiently and noticed his reluctance. "Do go on please," she urged.
"You were the only professor that ever took a genuine interest in me, the only one who thought that I had any real potential for something other than the Dark Arts. You wanted to give me a chance, but I was an idiot and joined the deatheaters instead," he said quietly.
There was something familiar about his dark eyes and the way he made such a powerful admission of past wrongs to her. She realized that he would never have done such a thing for just anyone. She found her voice again and asked, "What was the battle you spoke of?"
"Most people don't talk about this particular insurgence, as if it had no relevance at all. They think it was not important because it was after Voldemort's first fall. Potter had not yet come to Hogwarts, but the old deatheaters sensed that their master would make a comeback soon. They were headed toward Hogwarts disguised as officials from the Ministry of Magic. It was long suspected that they wanted something from the forbidden books section to bring Voldemort back. When they attacked the castle, all of the staff rushed out to take care of the matter. There was a great deal of smoke in the air and we lost a few people, including you. But they lost more. We overcame them, but every victory comes with a price," he ended.
"I never realized," she said quietly. "How do you seem to know me so well?"
"When I decided to turn back to the correct side, you helped persuade the Headmaster that I deserved a second chance. I became your apprentice until I had learned enough to teach a class of my own," he explained.
She raised an eyebrow. "And we were on a first-name basis?"
He finally faced her again after a pause. "Yes. We were on friendlier terms than most of our colleagues."
She had not meant to notice it, but she realized that he was facing her without looking at her, an evasive gesture. "Something tells me that you made an understatement, but I suppose I will find out more later."
Why is she still as observant as ever? I don't want to tell her now; I don't even know if I want to tell her later. Then again, she deserves to know, but not right now, he reasoned. "There is more to tell, but we have more important things to tend to at the moment."
"Don't you think that we ought to look for the books now?" she persuaded, understanding that he was through explaining the past for the moment.
With a sharp nod, he began walking ahead of her. "The library is this way."
As Severus and the Elvish woman sauntered off toward the library, Albus and Minerva continued to talk in the study. "Well, that went better than I thought it would," the old man began.
Minerva sighed wistfully. "Yes, I feel terrible for bringing her back into Severus' life like this. She doesn't remember anything of him or her life here."
Albus nodded. "I know, my dear, but they must learn to work together for the greater good, no matter the emotional cost."
"I don't like this at all, but I suppose you are right. I sincerely hope that they catch that thief soon. The last thing we need is another battle on our hands. I'll see you at dinner, Albus. I have marking to do," she stated as she moved toward the door.
He noticed how weary Minerva looked before she turned to leave. Reaching out, he took her hand in his and she turned around to face him. "My dear, you seem so taxed today. Perhaps you should reserve your marking for later and rest before dinner," he recommended.
She smiled kindly. "Thank you for your concern, Albus, but I'm perfectly capable of doing my work."
Reluctantly he let her go. "I just want you to take care of yourself. No one expects you to take on all that you once did immediately."
When she looked into his bright blue eyes, she saw the deep compassion he had for her along with genuine worry. "Albus, I'll be fine. I just need time."
He pulled her into a warm hug. "Very well, I shall see you at dinner then." After she had left, he wondered how Severus and the woman were getting along in the library.
Pouring over dust-encrusted volumes, the two looked for anything that related to staff magic, Middle Earth, and protection against the old magic. After finding nothing of use for an hour of searching, the Elvish woman lost her patience. "There must be a faster way to do this. The entire mess is ridiculous! It'll take us years to find what we need at this rate!" she complained.
Severus had been comfortable merely being near her after having thought her to be dead. He dealt her his customary smirk. She never was a patient person, he recalled. "I suppose you have a better idea then?"
She thought for a moment. "Actually, I might. Have you ever heard of a word searching spell?"
"No, how does it work?" he asked.
"It is usually used for replacing words in documents with other words. However, if you are looking for a particular word, it can help locate the word in the document. Shall we give it a try?" she suggested.
He nodded. "I'd like to get out of this dust sanctuary soon myself."
Using the word 'staff,' she found five books on the bottom shelf. Grabbing a few and handing the rest to Severus, she soon discovered that the search had worked. They found the necessary protective spells within the next hour. Having found what they needed, the two stood. "We ought to analyze these books again tomorrow, even over the next few days, but I suppose the spells we found will help in the immediate defense of Hogwarts," Severus remarked.
"Yes, and we need to perform them outside. My understanding is that they should create a shield around the castle that will buy us enough time to discover what the thief wants to find here," the Elvish woman added.
The two walked outside and performed the spells, noticing that different colours emanated from the wands. Severus asked her about it as they treaded back to the castle. "Your wand projected a bluish purple colour while mine projected a red-violet beam because the potency of this particular spell relates to how much magic our backgrounds have and the wizards in our ancestry. The light from your wand means that you are a descendant from one of the original wizards during the time of Gandalf and Saruman. Mine means that I am not. Most people are not, you see."
He snorted as they began returning to the castle for dinner. "And I suppose you learned that from your new research?"
She nodded. "Actually I did. You seem awfully doubtful about all I have just told you. Have you always been this cranky?"
Raising an eyebrow, he met her glance for a moment. "Even when I was your student, you asked me that. I shouldn't be surprised to hear you ask it again."
"And I take it that I never learned the answer?" she probed. When she smirked, he found it increasingly difficult to believe that she could not remember her identity. The smirk was so familiar to him that he found himself staring again. "I believe you left something out, but you will probably tell me in time, yes?"
The use of her old rhetoric did him in. In a move quick as lightning, he grabbed her shoulders and locked eyes with her, almost as if he intended to kiss her. Then he hastily pulled back. "Yes, in time," he added before sauntering off.
('Heryn' is Elvish for 'lady' and my thanks to Quill of Minerva, Always Hopeful and S.S.S.570, for reviewing :D)