Severus Snape watched the ambuelance men as they carried the woman to their vehicle. Several tubes were running from clear bags to her arms, and a clear mask was covering her nose and mouth. After passing out the second time she'd remained unconscious, a great relief for the both of them.
A man from the ministry was handling the poleece, answering their questions. No, they didn't know who she was, or why she was there. She just walked in off the street and started having some kind of fit. And then, after what seemed like ages, the Muggles were gone, minus a few small details like where the Leaky Cauldron actually was, what their names were, or how to contact them.
"It was close there, Severus, very close," Falcon, the ministry agent was saying now, wiping his head with a handkerchief.
"Indeed. Was Petterwig using American's in his security tests, Falcon?"
Falcon, a short, stocky wizard with white-blond hair shook his head. "Not that I know of, all internal, if I'm right. Why do you ask?"
Snape crossed his arms. "That woman was using magic, Falcon, but acted like a Muggle to the end."
"Magic? Are you sure?"
Snape fought the urge to yell at the man. "Yes, I'm sure, or else I wouldn't have said anything. She's a magic user who's pretending to be a Muggle."
"Then why in the world would you have called me?"
"Because I assumed that if this was a test of some sort, the best thing would be to treat her as a Muggle."
"Er's 'er purse, professor," Tom said, handing the straw bag to him.
He pawed through the bag, but there was no magic paraphernalia, no wand, no powders of any kind. It took less than a minute to find some identification with her picture on it. "Marian Elvbow. An American."
Falcon took the small booklet and the purse. "I'll turn this over to the international department immediately. Last thing we need is to have a rogue witch running around, especially one from another country. Come now, I'm sure the head of the department would like a statement from you and Tom on what happened today. It's after one, so he should be back from lunch."
Severus Snape sighed as he, Tom, and Falcon Disapparated. And to think, all he wanted this morning was to restock his rat entrails.
____________________________________
It was the beeping that woke her up, as it usually did. The steady, beep…beep… that all hospital machinery seemed to make. Every muscle she owned ached, and it felt like someone had shoved a few pillows into her head, she was so foggy. But one thing was clear. She must have had an attack. Again.
This was not good.
"Ah, you're awake," a nurse walked over to her, and started pushing buttons on the monitor. "How are you feeling?"
Marian moved her tongue around in her mouth, checking for the slightest bit of moisture. "Like shit," she finally croaked, staring at the ceiling. "Where am I?"
"St. Margarets, in London. Do you know your name?"
"Marian Elvbow."
The nurse smiled. "Good, then we can get rid of this Jane Doe. No one knew your name," The nurse looked at the bag attached to the drip. "Need to change that luv, be back in a jiffy."
Marian sighed with relief when the nurse left. After two years, she was back in a hospital after passing out…where had she been anyway? She remembered walking to the market to get some things, then deciding the day was too nice to waste and headed for Trafalgar.
After that… nothing.
Jane Doe. Someone must have stolen her purse then. She'd have to get her prescription refilled, which meant going to Dr. Almson again. That was an experience she wasn't relishing.
"So, you are awake," A cheerful voice said from the doorway.
The doctor, if that's who he was, was tall, almost too tall, and lanky, with olive skin and dark eyes. " I'm Dr. Simth. Nurse Byers called me. She tells me your name is Marian."
"Yeah," she tried to hide her apprehension. There were few things she disliked more than doctors.
The doctor smiled. " And your age?"
" 32."
He continued writing on the chart he held. "Good. I'll have her checking the name with our files now." He lowered the chart. "You don't sound like you're from London."
Marian started to sit up, wincing as pain lanced through her stomach. "No, I'm an American. Shit!" she let herself fall back. Her passport, her visa, everything that she needed was in that purse, and some bastard had stolen it. "I need a phone. I have to call the Embassy."
"Of course, but I need to ask you some questions first." Simth continued in a soothing tone. "You were brought in, unconscious, about seven hours ago. There is no sign of struggle, no sign of drugs. You did, however, have a rather severe nose bleed, and your vital signs were jumping all over our charts. Can you tell me what happened?"
Marian sighed again. She hated explaining things to doctors. " I have these spasms. I don't get them often, but when I do their terrible. Sometimes they cause me to pass out. Nose bleeds are a real bad sign," she sat up again, wincing as her stomach muscles protested once more. "Shriners hospital should have all my records. My number is 89736547."
"Excellent," he pressed the call button, and handed the paper he'd written on to the nurse. "Give this to Helga, please."
"Can I go home?" Marian asked, hopefulness filling her voice.
Dr. Simth looked shocked. "I'm afraid we can't release you yet, Ms Elvbow. The EMF personnel's report is very alarming. Your blood pressure was extremely high, and you were unresponsive to any stimuli for a long period of time. I'd like to keep you for twenty-four hours, for observation purposes. Is there anyone you should call?"
Marian shook her head. She didn't know anyone in London besides the landlady, and she doubted Berta would care if she came home or not. Thank God she'd feed Missy before going out this morning.
Whatever Dr. Simth said to her after that didn't seem to make sense. She was going to spend the night in the hospital, whether she wanted to or not.
Things just seemed to get worse and worse.
_______________________________________________
"I understand there was some commotion at the Leaky Cauldron earlier today, Severus."
The potions professor turned around, and saw Professor Dumbledore, the Hogwarts headmaster, standing near his desk.
"Yes, a Muggle managed to find her way into the pub and started having some kind of fit," he answered, carefully filling a jar with willow extract.
"Cornelius Fudge told me something rather interesting about this," Dumbledore continued. "He said that you believed the Muggle was actually a witch in disguise."
Snape sighed. "I did, but I sensed no magic about her, except for a few moments. No one can mask themselves from another wizard, so I must have been mistaken."
"Quite right, Severus. He did, however, give me these," the older man placed a familiar bag on his desk. "They were thoroughly examined by the ministry, and he wished me to inform you that there is no record of a Marian Elvbow in any of the ministry files both here and abroad, nor does her picture match that of any known witch."
Snape looked from the bag to the headmaster. "And what does Fudge want me to do with her belongings."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "At the moment, Ms Elvbow is in hospital, where she will be until tomorrow. She is currently being watched by one of the ministry's people who work there. When she returns home, Fudge would like you to deliver these to her, and find out as much as you can about her. Considering the times, we cannot have a rogue witch running loose."
Snape couldn't believe his ears. They wanted him to get close to some Muggle woman? "With all due respect, Headmaster, wouldn't someone from the ministry be a better pick for a job such as this. The term begins in two days, and I have much to prepare."
"They are not asking you to take yourself away from your work, Severus. You spent the most time with her, and they believe she will not find it amiss if you were to return her belongings. All they ask is that you discover as much as you can in one visit. If you believe that she is worth putting under observation, or that there is no need for such, then they will take that under advisement. Oh, and they sent these," the headmaster pulled out a black bundle and set it next to the bag. "I understand that these will help you to blend in."
Snape watched Dumbledore leave, wishing he'd simply gone into Diagon Alley and left it at that. If he had, he wouldn't be in the present situation. Growling in frustration, he walked over to the parcel and opened it. It was a pair of black slacks and a black sweater.
This day couldn't possibly get any worse.
_____________________________________________
Marian took a deep breath when the door to her apartment closed behind her and dropped the paper bag she was carrying on the credenza. Her day had been terrible. She'd already canceled her credit cards from the hospital, but she'd still had to go to the Embassy and wait in line for over five hours before she was seen. And now she had to wait for her new passport and visa to be issued, which meant that until she did she couldn't access her accounts, pay bills, or do anything else. And to make matters worse, the minute she stepped out of the Embassy it started raining, and since she didn't have an umbrella she was drenched through.
"Hey Miss," she called into the bedroom, where her python Missy was curled up on the bed. She heard the distinct thump of over eighty pounds of snake falling on the floor, and watched her slither into the kitchen. If Mrs. Henderson knew that Missy spent more time out of her cage than in it, they'd both be out on their ass in about five seconds flat. But she hated seeing Missy locked up behind glass, unable to move around.
"Don't tell me you missed me?" she said as she felt the nine-foot snake curl around her ankle, the nose rubbing tenderly against the vein there. "'Course you didn't. I fed you before I left, so you've just been sitting pretty, haven't you?"
Seemingly offended, the snake released her ankle and began curling around a bar that she'd set up that stretched from the floor to the ceiling allowing the snake to get onto the counters. Marian opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of red wine while reaching for a glass. She definitely needed some assistance unwinding after being stuck in a hospital for a day and a half.
"You have any idea how hard it is to get vicodin out of a doctor when you just got your prescription filled a week ago, Missy?" she asked as she filled the wine glass. "Damn hard!" she answered when the snake only looked at her. She raised her glass. "To doctors, long may they reign."
She was halfway through her second glass, fresh out of the bathtub, and considerably more relaxed, when there was a series of sharp knocks on her door. The clock on the mantle read 9:14, too late for door-to-door salesmen. Damn, just when she was beginning to get comfortable…
"All right! Keep your panties on!" She yelled when the knocks were repeated, much louder this time. Grumbling, and checking to make sure Missy was out of sight, the looked through the peephole. A man was standing there, looking nervously around. "What do you want?" she called through the door.
" I have something of yours," he replied, holding up her bag.
Without hesitating, she threw open the door. The man, whoever he was, was dressed in black from head to foot. "Do I know you?"
"I'm one of the people who helped you the other day in the pub."
Pub? She didn't remember a pub. "Well, thanks for returning my bag. Good night." She was about the close the door when he spoke up.
"If you wouldn't mind, do you have a towel?" The man asked. "I'm afraid I'm soaked."
Marian looked him up and down. His hair was plastered to his head, and a small puddle was forming at his feet, not only that, but she swore he was starting to shiver. "Sure, come on in."
The stranger walked into her apartment, and Marian thanked whatever power made her choose her baggy flannels instead of her usual tee-shirt and boxers. "I'll get you a towel, Mr?"
"Snape," was the short reply. "Severus Snape."
She blinked, but didn't say anything. "Marian Elvbow. Thanks for bringing this back," she held up the bag. While she acted like she was searching for a towel she went through her bag. Everything, from her money to her visa, was still there. So the guy couldn't have been half bad. That settled, she grabbed a bath towel and headed to the living room, and froze.
Severus was standing in a corner, staring down Missy, who had reared and was watching him with barely restrained hostility. "God-damnit, Missy, lay off him!" Marian shrieked, stomping into the room.
Missy in turn swung around and glared at her.
"I said NOW!" Marian pointed behind her. "Bedroom. Go!"
Reluctantly, but not before getting in a parting hiss, the python lowered herself to the floor and slithered into the bedroom, deliberately bumping against Marian and knocking her slightly off balance.
Marian handed him the towel, smiling sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Mr. Snape. Damn snake has a mind of her own."
Despite the fact that he'd come very close to being attacked by a large animal, Snape seemed for the most part rather calm."Quite all right. I found her…fascinating." He scrubbed his hair fiercely with the towel. The drenching had been his idea, in the vain hope that she wasn't as coarse as she'd come off at the Leaky Cauldron and actually had manners enough to invite him in. So far, it was working perfectly. "She's a Burmese, am I right? Where did you get her?"
"Actually, she got me two years ago." Marian watched him dry off. "Found her on the walk one morning. Never had the heart to give her to a pet shop. If I knew how much trouble she'd get into, I'd have put her down before I got attached."
Severus looked up. "Does she always do what she's told?"
"Not unless she knows she's in deep shit, which is often." Marian gave him another once over. The man was really soaked, and the thick sweater he was wearing had to be dripping at least a gallon of water on Mrs. Henderson's hard wood floor. "You should get out of those clothes," she said, starting back towards her bedroom. She thought she had some sweats and an old army tee shirt that might fit him.
"I'm quite all right, thank you," Severus answered, unsure of what to do now. It would seem odd if he refused her help in getting dry, considering that he was dripping from anywhere he could at the moment.
Marian shrugged. "At least let me hang your sweater up in the bathroom. There's a hot lamp in there, so it should be dry in no time."
The potions master acquiesced and stripped off the heavy sweater, thankful he'd chosen to wear one of his shirts underneath.
"There's a heater in the corner," she called from further in the apartment.
Snape looked around and saw a small gray contraption with a long black cord leading to a wall sitting in the far corner, and thought better of it. He touched his wand and uttered a simple drying spell, taking away the worst of his discomfort.
Well," Marian said when she returned. "Now that you've been threatened by my snake, I guess this makes you an official guest. Would you like something to drink? Water? Soda? Wine?"
"Wine, thank you."
Marian headed for the kitchen, ignoring the twinges in her stomach. What the hell was with her lately? It hadn't been this bad since she moved out of Surrey. "Red or white?"
"Red."
As she poured another glass she tried to remember a pub. She vaguely remembered walking into someplace cool, then waking up in a dark room with someone sitting next to her. I might have been him, but she couldn't recall the person's face. All she really remembered was wishing that the spasm would hurry up and pass.
Severus watched the woman walk into her kitchen, grateful that he'd managed to find the right place. Her living quarters contained nothing especially eye catching, nothing that called to him. She was medium height, with medium length brown hair, medium build, with dull gray eyes. In fact there was nothing extraordinary about her that he could detect, no magical aura, nothing. Clearly, he'd wasted his evening on the Ministries wild goose chase. Hopefully he would be back at Hogwarts within the hour. The students would be arriving the next night, and there was still much to prepare for.
He walked casually around the apartment. It wasn't large, with what he assumed was a single bedroom and bathroom at the end of a short hallway. There was, however, a large bookcase that was filled to bursting with several different books. The Magic of Chinese Medicine, Healing Herbs, The Path to Herbal Health, Magical Plants and their Properties were just a few of the titles concerning botany. There were several books concerning the martial arts and others that weren't nearly as interesting. At the window there were several large pots, all filled to overflowing with plants, most of which he recognized for the healing properties, among other things. Others were spread throughout the apartment, or strung along the walls. All of them looked healthy and well cared for.
"Do you like plants, Mr. Snape?"
He turned. She was standing behind him, glass extended. "I have an interest. Your collection is quite impressive. That's mandrake, if I'm not mistaken, as well as foxglove and belladonna," he said, pointing to several pots that were nestled on the window sill.
"Um, yeah." Marian took a drink. "You're not supposed to grow them, so I'd appreciate you not mentioning it to anyone, okay?"
Severus smiled to himself. "Then why, might I ask, are you growing them?"
"Personal."
"Illegal?"
Marian smiled. "If I told you, I'd have to kill you."
Snape watched her for a moment before deciding that she was only joking. "Do you study botany professionally, Ms. Elvbow?"
She looked shocked. "More like a hobby, Mr. Snape. Plants are fascinating. And you?"
"Chemistry," he answered, assuming it was close enough to what he actually did. Severus reached into his pocket, fingering the small phial of Veritaserum that he'd bought as a last resort. He'd found more questions than answers in this visit, and too much depended on him to leave so many unanswered questions.
"Missy! Room, now!"
The command interrupted his thoughts. The python had returned, and was currently trying to sneak past Marian. Now she was magical, if the slight aura she had was any indication, and she didn't like his presence at all. While Marian was herding her pet, he let one drop of the clear liquid fall into her glass. In a few minutes he would have all the information they needed to either forget the woman, or bring her in to be dealt with by the Counsel.
"I'm sorry, I just don't know what's gotten into her. You don't keep rats as pets, do you?"
Snape smiled. "Not exactly, no."
The woman looked genuinely confused. "It's not like her to just go after someone. She's usually very people-friendly."
Snape shrugged. "I have never had much luck with animals, I'm sorry to say." Drink already!
"Guess she just doesn't like you," she took a long drink. "Your name, I was wondering…where…you…" she trailed off, staring blankly in front of her.
Finally. Snape set his glass down on the table. "Now. Your name."
"Marian Elvbow."
"Where were you born?"
"I don't know."
That gave him pause. "You don't know?"'
"No."
Curious. "Why not?'
"I was found on a road in Arizona a few days after I was born. There were no papers with me."
Interesting, but not relevant to what he needed to know. "Are you a witch?"
Her face scrunched for a moment. "Witches don't exist."
"What happened at the Leaky Cauldron yesterday?"
"I wasn't at the Leaky Cauldron," Confusion ghosted across her features.
"Yes you were." Snape pushed. "It's a pub in Trafalgar."
"I wasn't there."
Severus raised an eyebrow. She wasn't lying, she couldn't be. So either she didn't know the name of the pub, or she didn't remember. "What did you do yesterday?"
"I woke up and had toast for breakfast. I fed Missyla, showered, got dressed and went out to do some shopping because I needed to get bread for dinner. I decided to walk around and had an attack somewhere in Trafalgar. Someone called an ambulance and I woke up in the hospital, where I spent the rest of the night."
"And today?"
"I woke up, had a physical and spoke with Dr Simth, who refilled my prescription and released me. I went to the pharmacy to get my prescription and I spent the rest of the morning and afternoon at the Embassy trying to get another passport and work visa. I stopped at McDonalds, and came home. I had a glass of wine, took a bath, and got dressed. Then you came and-"
"All right. What is the nature of these attacks?"
She frowned. "I don't know. None of the doctors have been able to tell me what causes them, so they just give me medicine to deal with the pain."
Fair enough. "Why do you study botany?"
"Because the drugs my doctors have me on keep me from functioning, and I've lost two jobs because of it. Homeopathic remedies are supposed to work just as well without having so many side effects."
That wasn't surprising. From what little he'd studied of Muggle medicine they were hopeless with their cures. Most of them did more harm than good to a person. "What jobs did you loose?"
"A teaching position in Surrey four years ago, and as office assistant two years ago."
There was the sound of something breaking, and Snape looked up. The wine glass he'd been using had shattered, spilling the red liquid over the small coffee table. Something else in the kitchen broke, and the windowpane behind him splintered, the glass still intact but honeycombed. He could feel it now, misty tendrils that came from the woman in front of him that snaked through the room, licking at the furniture and walls. She was using magic again. "How are you doing this?"
"I don't know."
Snape looked at her closely. A fine sheen of sweat was covering her, and her eyes appeared more vacant than they should have been. She was cold to the touch, and small lines were starting to appear around her mouth and eyes. "Are you in pain?"
"Hell yes."
Snape sighed. Professor Dumbledore would definitely not be pleased with him when he showed up with this woman in tow, but it couldn't be avoided. She was having an abnormal reaction to the potion, and if he left her she might die.
Cursing silently, lifted the woman under the arms, and paused when a loud hiss sounded. Missy was watching him with murderous eyes, looking ready to strike. She'd managed to get out of a closed room, proving his theory that she had some magic in her.
"If I don't help her she'll die. I'll send someone for you later."
Missy wasn't pleased, and wrapped herself around her mistress's leg.
"Fine. Hagrid will take care of you," with that, the trio Disapparated.
Thanks for reading!!!! Special cheery topped thanks goes out to Vegeta Jr and koku for their reviews!!!!!