Diclaimer.
J.K
Rowling went out one day so I took her characters out to play.
We
ran around, they laughed with glee,
All this fun and she works for
free!
Sorry, real life kicked in and updating took longer than I thought. Here's chapter 14 just to move Phaelan and Snape along.
TTFN
As promised, Snape agreed to accompany Phaelan into London to purchase equipment to test the potential energy manifested in magic. He had only a marginal understanding of what she intended to do, but her theories intrigued him.
"Do you have any books on what you are trying to achieve in your library Phaelan?" Snape asked as he perused the stacks he, not so long ago, had leaned on watching this woman prepare for her adventure into the world of magic. He looked up and saw the mirror; his body reacted to the memory. Looking behind him, Snape hoped she hadn't noticed.
"No," she replied. "But there will be some manuals with the equipment and maybe some texts in the store." She opened the mail her landlady had left on the table and left it for rubbish.
"Ready?" she asked. They were going to drive to the shop for the equipment.
"I suppose." he replied with a resigned sigh.
Phaelan laughed as she led him out to her car. Severus settled himself in the passenger seat.
"Seat belt." Phaelan commanded.
"You want me to tie myself into this contraption?" Snape looked askance at Phaelan in the driver's seat.
"It's the law." she replied reaching across him to pull the seat belt over his chest and lap to fasten at his right hip.
"Right." was his response, clearly nervous.
"You have been in a car before, haven't you?" wondered Phaelan.
"Eh, yes. I was quite young and I sat in the back." Snape recalled painfully. It had been a car stolen from a Muggle family during one of the early Death eater raids. A youthful Snape and his companions thought it would be an adventure. The car ended up in a ditch and the four miscreants landed in St Mungo's trying to explain the injuries to a confused Mediwitch.
"Don't worry, I've never had an accident," Phaelan reassured, "yet" she added to tease him.
The drive was uneventful and Snape finally relaxed. Phaelan opened the sunroof. She smiled as Severus lifted his head to enjoy the sun and air.
"I hope you used sunscreen?" Phaelan observed.
"Why?" wondered Snape.
"You have Vitiligo." she observed.
"How did you guess?" a confused Snape wondered.
"It really wasn't a guess," Phaelan answered, "You tend to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and cover up when you are out." observed Phaelan as she continued to drive. "And, you have a couple of patches of darker pigment on the back of your neck."
"Not many people have heard of it." Snape commented.
I had a close friend in college with the condition. They used to make fun of her because the only time we'd see her was after the sun set." She looked at him and smiled. "Sunburn can be painful."
After finding what they needed in the Muggle electrical supply store along with a book or two for Snape, they made their way to Charing Cross Rd to visit Diagon Alley. Phaelan entered the Leaky Cauldron remembering her first day at the book store that had brought her to this world. Had it really been less than a month? If felt like a life time.
Exiting from the rear, Snape tapped the stone wall to reveal Diagon Alley to Phaelan. Her eyes widened as the archway revealed itself.
Stepping through, Phaelan was agog at the bustling street just beyond Muggle London. Beside her Snape transformed his clothes back into the trademark billowing black robes before continuing.
"This is incredible. How could this place exist inside London and yet be totally hidden?" she shook her head.
Snape was silently pleased at her reaction. He was afraid she was becoming blasé about his world. It would be safer for her to maintain a bit of awe and caution.
"Come, Gringotts is this way. You can make a withdrawal and set your exchange with the Muggle bank." Snape indicated the way and took her elbow.
Her manner of dress screamed Muggle to the crowds in the Alley and she was feeling a bit out of place. While she took in everything around her, Phaelan made sure to stay close to Snape for her own comfort and protection.
The bank was nothing like the modern structures Phaelan was used to. It looked like it was about to topple over. Entering the bank, Phaelan was struck by a childhood memory of the first time she saw the movie Mary Poppins. The interior of the bank looked almost the same as the one Mr. Banks worked at.
"Do you have your key?" Snape asked.
Reaching into her wallet, Phaelan pulled out the old fashioned brass key and showed it to Severus.
"Don't loose it. That's your identification to get into your vault." He instructed as they lined up for the next teller.
"Next please." called a nasal voice. "Oh another Muggle." the ugly creature looked down his nose.
"I'd like to see my vault and make a withdrawal please." stated Phaelan.
"Do you have your key?" asked the creature again.
Phaelan held her key up to show the horrible little twerp.
"Very well. Crup!" he yelled and another of the same creatures scurried over.
"Follow me." he indicated to the pair and they made their way to a waiting car.
Phaelan grabbed Snape's leg as they took off. He was thankful it wasn't higher or he would have been making some rather undignified noises. As it was, he detached her hands and wrapped his arm around her. Sometimes another's fright had pleasant compensation for a willing companion.
"Vault 555." announced Crup as they slowed and stopped. "Key please."
Phaelan stepped out of the car and handed the key to the little man – she still didn't know exactly what he was.
The door opened to the vault and Phaelan stepped inside. A few small sacks sat on a shelf to the side which must have been her advance from the school.
"How much should I take?" she asked Snape.
"Are you a brazen shopper or do you have some restraint? Snape asked arching his brow.
"I only meant I don't know the value of your money or the cost of living so I can't make an informed decision." Phaelan snapped back.
"I suggest 50 galleons to start. If you need more, you can sign a debit to your account and the money will be transferred." advised Snape.
"Alright." Phaelan grabbed one of the sacks and tried to figure out how much was in it.
"Here," Snape grabbed 2 sacks, "I'll give you a lesson on currency later. Let's go, the goblins running this place give me indigestion."
They rode back to the main hall where Phaelan signed for the permission to transfer funds between her two banks and happily left the depressing structure behind.
Walking down the street was a sensory adventure. Noises, scents, wondrous creatures, sensations of magic happening all around. Phaelan began to feel the energy build up inside again and it was beginning to weaken her.
She pulled on Snape's sleeve. "Severus, I need to sit. I'm thirsty and hot."
Snape looked at her noticing her colour. Poppy had warned this might happen when she was in the midst of so much magic.
"Come. " He led her to Fortesques Ice cream parlour and sat at an outdoor table. "Raspberry soda for one." he ordered. It appeared almost immediately.
Pulling a phial from his pocket, he handed it to Phaelan, "Drink all of this and then the soda. You need the sugar."
She did as instructed and began to feel better right away. "Wow that worked well."
"Yes, well don't get too used to it. It can be addictive." Snape warned. "Ready to move on?" he asked while dropping a few coins on the table.
"Yes, "she replied, "where to first."
"The book store of course." he announced leading the way.
"Of course." she echoed.
Another onslaught of sensory overload. This store made the shop where her interview was held look like a hole in the wall.
"Is it safe to browse by myself?" Phaelan asked remembering the growling book.
"Don't go near the dark arts or Magical creatures sections. The rest of the books are domesticated mostly." he answered in all seriousness.
Phaelan just looked at him and raised her eyebrows.
Wandering around the store to look for some decent text books for her class, she came across a section of books by Muggle authors. As a thought struck her, she was emboldened to approach a clerk.
"Excuse me, do you take special orders for books?" she enquired.
"Sometimes, Miss, if there is enough demand." the clerk replied while eyeing her up and down.
"Say I were to order oh twenty or thirty books of one selection would that be enough?" she enquired.
"Sounds like you're a teacher or something." laughed the young man.
"Yes, I am." she rejoined.
"I'm sure we could arrange something Miss." he quietly answered somewhat contritely.
"Thank you"
She continued walking about until a familiar blue light crossed her line of vision in a blur. Frowning, she walked back to retrace her steps. Yes, there it was – a computer screen. Looking about her, Phaelan began to search for Snape. He had to see this. Where was he?
After searching every book stack in the store it seemed, she found him engrossed in a dark arts volume.
"There you are!" she announced only to be shushed by the other shoppers. She walked into the aisle.
"Be careful, don't touch these books." he hissed.
"I've got to show you something." Phaelan grabbed his arm to try and drag him with her.
"What is it?" he snapped in annoyance, pulling his arm out of her grasp. One had to maintain the correct demeanour.
Looking around Phaelan whispered, "I saw a computer in the office."
"Don't be daft, you silly woman, there are no computers in Diagon Alley." retorted Snape, annoyed to have his reading interrupted.
"I'll prove it." she stated.
"How are you…….What are you doing?" demanded Snape as Phaelan unbuttoned her shirt to reveal her ample cleavage. Opening her bag, she pulled out two pony tail holders and roughly pulled her hair up in bunches either side of her head. A quick application of lipstick and for the denouement, chewing gum hastily chewed to bubble blowing consistency. Walking to the front counter, she rang the small bell for attention.
"Helloooh, wheyah is he proprietah of this fine establishment?" she called while leaning her ample bust over the counter to show her wears.
"I am the one of the owners Miss?" Mr. Flourish asked.
"Mamselle Royale, suh. I'm here visitin' mah second cousin twice removed? He's been sooooh kind ushering me around and the like. We got kinda separated and he told me to meet him heyah if I got lost."
"Perhaps I know your relative Miss Royale. what is his n…."an incredulous Mr Flourish was cut off in mid sentence by Phaelan's gasp
"Mr. Flourish suh, I Had no idea anyone would have one of those in Diagon Alley." Phaelan gave him a blinding smile and a clear view of her cleavage.
"I do believe you, suh, have a computer in youah office." she whispered leaning forward to share her secret and accidentally lean her bosom on his arm. "Would you show it to me, as a personal favour like?" she gushed. "Please suh, I've nevah seen one close up befoah." she finished with a smile and batted eyelashes again.
"Well miss, the, ahem, item you speak of is the first of it's kind. I wouldn't want it to get out…" Mr Flourish began.
"I'm just a poor squib suh. I hope to go to business school so's ahm not a burden to mah famly. I thought of takin' some computah courses so's ah could work in a office for the Muggles?" whined Phaelan, with her most syrupy of tones.
"I just want to look at it suh, please?" she pleaded and worked her eyes again. "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers."
Looking around, Mr Flourish was beginning to cave in, "Alright, just for a moment; and it remains a secret. Be sure not to touch anything." he instructed as he let her in.
"Thank you suh." Phaelan gushed once more as she followed the man behind the counter.
"Distract Him." she mouthed to Snape who was standing dumbfounded at her performance.
Once she was in the office, Snape walked over to where Flourish was standing and began to engage him in a conversation. Phaelan left the office within a few minutes, fortunately, as Snape was running out of inane banter to occupy Flourish's attention.
"Thank you kindly suh, I'm ever so grateful." Phaelan flattered the owner.
Snape surreptitiously cast a brief Obliviate to wipe the past few minutes from Mr. Flourish's mind and grabbed Phaelan to drag her from the store.
"Cover yourself." He demanded as they rounded into the alley beside the store.
"Alright, Severus, don't have a fit." Phaelan was confused at his attitude. It wasn't the dominant Death Eater or the snide teacher before her. This was something else.
"What's wrong Severus?" Phaelan asked as she straightened out her clothing.
"In case you haven't noticed, madam, the people in this part of London dress a little more conservatively. I don't want other m….I mean you surely don't want men look at you in such a disgusting fashion." Snape had stopped himself from making an embarrassing declaration.
Phaelan had noticed but she said nothing as he appeared perplexed himself at his almost choice of words.
"Better?" she asked as her attire was returned to normal.
Snape merely nodded, "Come we should get you some robes for school and outerwear."
He took her right hand and placed it in the crook of his elbow before leaving the side alley.
They continued down the street towards Madam Malkins. Phaelan could see the giant store sign approaching. She also noticed the witches around her. The women who were accompanied by men all had their hands in the gentleman's elbow as they walked. There was an air of possessiveness about the males who were with the women. This merits some research time, Phaelan thought.
She was distracted as they reached the shop by Snape opening the door for her and bidding her enter first. Phaelan looked around at the gowns and robes on display. Some, obviously for everyday wear, were similar to Muggle clothing. The main difference was the choice of fabrics; all natural, nothing synthetic. She walked around further until she came before a mannequin showing a dress of a shade of blue Phaelan could not name.
The style was a modified medieval ladies court gown. The hem was just to the ankle at the front for ease of walking but the back hem dipped into a short train barely touching the floor. The long sleeves were fitted and the wrist had a peak extending to the middle finger on each hand. Around the neck and hem, a border in gold was inscribed with symbols Phaelan could not decipher. The bodice was closely fitted and had a low waist delineated by a girdle of gold chain upon which a purse was strung. Phaelan doubted she had ever seen anything so beautiful.
"A lovely gown is it not madam?" came a feminine voice at her back.
"Oh yes! Yes it is." exclaimed Phaelan before she realized she had intended to say anything.
"They were once very popular among the educated witches but now the young have a preference for Muggle fashion." said the woman in a woeful tone.
"Good day Madam Malkin." greeted Snape as he approached the two women.
"Ah, professor," the lady replied, "here to order some new robes?" she inquired.
"For myself, no, but for my new colleague." he indicated Phaelan. "Miss Phaelan McKenzie."
"How do you do, Miss McKenzie. I'm afraid I don't recognize you but of course you are not from England." Madam Malkin raised her brows in an unspoken enquiry.
"Miss McKenzie is a Muggle from America. She will be teaching Muggle studies at the school in the new term." replied Snape coldly. "She requires teaching robes and decent outer robes to wear in public."
Looking at Phaelan once more she turned and beckoned, "Come with me miss, we have everything you need."
Phaelan looked back at Snape, suddenly, inexplicably, feeling a little hurt. Pushing back her reaction, she followed the woman to a fitting room to select the black teachers robes, 3 sets and outer robes, 1 heavy, 1 light. Her purchases were wrapped and at the counter as she approached ready to pay. The price exceeded her purse but when she gave her account number at Gringotts, the funds were transferred without delay.
"I suppose we're finished?" asked Phaelan.
"Yes, unless you have somewhere to go in Muggle London,"
"I do actually, right on this street. Borders book store." Phaelan replied.
They made their exit to Charring Cross Rd. to pick up Phaelan's car and drive the short distance to Borders at 120 Charring Cross Rd. Snape condescended to transfiguring his robes to a black trench coat again so that he might follow her into the store.
As they drove he watched Phaelan from the side of his eye. The time in Madam Malkins has left her unhappy he realized. In an out of character moment, he felt the need to explain himself.
"Phaelan, about the way I spoke in Malkins" he began. "I……"
"No don't explain. I understand. It's all part of the ruse. You treat me like shit in public and I accept it." Phaelan interjected.
"No! Yes! Phaelan, do you really understand the threat you are under? You cannot walk around so brazenly Muggle in magical enclaves. You don't know who's waiting to kidnap you or worse." Snape replied angrily as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Phaelan thought for a moment not wanting to give the trite answer that came to her lips. "I understand intellectually I am threatened. The incident with Malfoy made that clear. I can't comprehend how much threat. You have not deigned to acquaint me with the 5 W's of my would be enemy. Who, what, where, when and why." she finally replied angrily.
"We're here." she announced, as she parked her car. As she made to get out, Snape grasped her arm to stop her.
"We need to talk." Snape decided.
"Look Severus, this is metered parking. We can talk later." again Phaelan turned to her door to exit only to be pulled roughly back.
"We will talk now." he commanded through a clenched jaw, never once letting go of her arm.
"I think you are confusing our true reality with the subterfuge I have agreed to take part in, Professor Snape. You do not have leave to treat me as your property outside of that agreement. If you want my cooperation, stop treating me as a child. I want the information I am missing and that is final." Phaelan angrily responded before removing her arm from his grasp.
Getting out of the car, Phaelan waited to see if he would follow. Inside the vehicle Snape took a deep breath opened the door, exited and slammed it behind him. Phaelan keyed the locking mechanism angrily looking at her dark companion.
"You break, you pay." she snapped before turning on her heel and heading into the store.
Snape quietly seethed. Keeping at least two paces between them; he followed her into the largest book store he had ever seen.
"I'll be checking out the History, Social studies, Civics and Sociology sections. I want to be alone while I'm here for at least an hour, do you understand?" she stated in a low but commanding tone.
She looked at him with a visage that would brook no disagreement. He looked at her with no expression crossing his face. Neither knew each had just beheld the other at their most dangerous. Snape nodded and made his way to the natural sciences area only glancing briefly in her direction. They each became engrossed in the books before them. Rampant bibliophiles, they could likely have spent the entire day browsing and still not have tired of the task.
Looking at his watch, Snape found that slightly more than an hour had passed. Not too surprisingly, he had found three books worthy of his attention and he intended to purchase them. He was not the entire stranger to the Muggle world his companion might have thought. With a private smirk, he looked forward to seeing her reaction to how he paid for the books.
Phaelan walked out of the book stacks with a note book and half a dozen volumes in her shopping basket. She looked around and saw him standing at the rack of movie videos available to rent. She had wondered how he understood some of the idioms she had used and now secretly thought he probably had a hobby of watching old Muggle movies. The idea caused her to snort and shake her head.
Snape turned and saw her standing looking at him. When Phaelan noticed he had seen her, she indicated towards the check outs with her chin. He nodded and walked in that direction. Snape entered the line-up in front of her at which point she noted he had books in his hands. Raising her eyebrows, she thought, 'He'd better not think I'm picking up the tab for them.'
"That will be twenty four pounds forty sir. Are you interested in our book club?" asked the clerk.
"No thank you." replied Snape as he smoothly pulled a Visa card from his wallet.
Phaelan was stunned. She gaped as he confidently signed his name on the receipt like he had done it all his life. He gave a backward glance at her with a snide smile on his face.
"No bag is required thank you, this will be all." he purred to the clerk before gathering up his purchases and leaving the store.
Phaelan completed her transaction in a blur and followed him out the doors. He stood leaning against the car waiting for her. Phaelan unlocked the car doors. He opened the passenger side and slid in putting the books on the dash board while he fastened his seat belt.
Phaelan dropped her purchases on the back seat and got behind the wheel. Snape had put the books on his lap and opened the top one to read. They turned to look at each other, Phaelan with narrowed eyes, he with a self satisfied grin. Waving the Visa receipt at her, Snape placed it in the book like a bookmark. Starting the car, Phaelan looked away thinking to herself, 'What a self centred prick.'
The drive to her flat was uneventful again. They entered her flat to floo back to the school. Snape had changed his coat back into his usual robes.
"I need to check my e-mail before I leave." Phaelan advised. At his questioning look, she continued. "I have friends that communicate this way. They expect a reply. This is also the first contact I would receive of any change to my flight schedule."
Snape frowned, he'd almost forgotten her contract with the reserves she was required to fulfil.
"My next flying date is Saturday. I intend to go alone." she stated at the look on his face. "The Headmaster agreed when I took the job, remember?" Phaelan smiled at the frown cast in her direction. It was so fun to piss him off.
Half an hour later, they flooed back to the castle. Each went their separate ways with their respective purchases without further conversation. At dinner in the great hall, they studiously ignored each other. The atmosphere between them was noticed but not commented on.
After an evening in her rooms reading her new books, Phaelan spent a restless night having a dream she had experience before. In the dungeons below, Snape had spent his evening in exactly the same way, retiring to his hand carved Sleigh bed. When he closed his eyes, a vision of Phaelan danced before him dressed as she was in Flourish and Blots earlier that day.
Who was this daemon who bedevilled his thoughts? He was totally undone by her; one minute a serious scholar the next the actress. Which one was she? He tossed rubbing his eyes muttering "Go Away!" to his vision before falling into a fitful sleep.
Trelawney might have described their experience as lucent dreaming. Each of the parties was haunted by the dream. While they would not admit it, they had experienced the dream whenever they had encountered a conflict between them. So it was Phaelan and Severus had the dream again; this time slightly changed.
'A figure; dark, just far enough away that one couldn't make out any features but closer than before, with their arm reaching out. Then a familiar voice 'I am waiting, for the part of me that is missing. We are of a kind. How great is the payment you seek? When will you barter?' The figure began to walk forward almost recognizable only to leave as the dreamers felt themselves shout.'
"Wait" he woke trembling and perspiring. It was more than just a dream. Snape tried to make sense of what he had experienced and he knew now he needed to speak to Trelawney. Running his hands through his hair he turned and looked at the clock. It was still early but he knew he would get no further sleep. He decided to rise and take a shower.
Phaelan awoke weeping with her arm outstretched to the dream figure. "Wait, don't leave me." She sat up and hugged her knees to her chest. She knew something profound was happening. The dream had changed subtlety but in such a manner she had thought she knew who it was appearing before her. Looking at the clock, Phaelan knew she would not get any more sleep. It was too early for breakfast so she decided on a long bath. Rising, she started to fill the tub. Lifting the soap to inhale the delicate fragrance, Phaelan wondered at the man who could create such beauty yet be so dangerous.
Phaelan had taken breakfast early and went to run around the Quidditch pitch to work off her frustration. Snape had come in for breakfast after she had left. He had started some potions earlier which had to sit for a while and so decided to take a walk about the castle as the sun was very bright this morning.
Returning from the pitch after a satisfying run, Phaelan wiped her face with a towel, she entered the hall way just as Snape was passing on his way to seek his favourite tower. He looked at her and offered one of his best Potions Masters scowls.
"I see we are still not wearing proper robes Ms McKenzie. What will it take to make you stop flaunting yourself so?" he sarcastically drawled.
Phaelan narrowed her eyes and offered him a small smile thick with irony.
"Professor, I believe we have something to talk about today. You have information to share with me that I require for my security and my special classes." She waited as he paused at the stairs.
s
"Madam, I will share the information with you I deem to be necessary. Not one datum more. Moreover, I will decide the time and place at my convenience. You will make yourself available." he turned away from her and began to ascend the stairs.
"You seem to have forgotten the conversation we had yesterday Snape. I am not at your beck and call in this castle or on Muggle territory. You can bloody well make time today or I will screw you over big time. I am not going to lay my ass or any other part of my anatomy on the line on your say so. I need the intell and you're going to give it." She was yelling at him as they both climbed the stairs to the upper corridors.
"For gods sakes woman, why should I give away information to you that could implicate me and others within the Order. Look at you. You don't have the decency to at least dress the part of a woman in your position. You talk to all men as if they were your peers. You are a target waiting to be hit. The Dark Lord could tap into your mind and extract the information from it as easily as peeling away the layers of an onion." He snorted at the last. "Trust a Muggle to keep secrets from a Death eater; what foolishness."
Turning he walked away from her again. He truly did not want her to be a weak thread in the Order or be thought of badly in the general Wizarding world. Hopefully his sarky self could make her see he was right.
Momentarily stunned Phaelan stared at his retreating back. No one had ever spoken down to her in such a way since she had become an officer and this was not the time to start.
"Snape, you son of a bitch, come back here and argue like a man." she began following him again, baiting him into a confrontation.
"I think you're just afraid you'll be bested by a woman, a Muggle at that. What are you afraid of? That I'll come up with a totally non-magical way to take out a wizard?" Phaelan was under full steam now, practically jogging in her efforts to pass him. She smiled at his thunderous expression.
"Why don't we spar you and I. You know, you send a curse at me and I try to castrate you with my little knife just for fun." she goaded.
"Shut your mouth woman if you know what's good for you." warned Snape.
Far below in the courtyard, Filch and Hagrid were talking over the upkeep of the grounds in relation to the animals in and around the castle. They heard the shouting from the tower.
"What's going on up there?" wondered Filch, holding his hand over his eyes while looking up.
"Sounds like our Potions master and the newest Perfessr are havin' an argy bargy" answered Hagrid.
"A lover's quarrel ye think?" asked Filch in a sardonic voice.
"I don't have a clue mate. He's never had a affair afore as I remembers." Hagrid replied as he watched the tower.
Snape's cheeks were becoming redder by the moment; his breathing faster as his temper rose higher than it had in years. He stopped as they had reached the tower. Phaelan walked around in front of him.
"Oh, did I touch a nerve, Severus." she crooned sweetly, "Maybe your Dark Lord has already done the dirty deed and you really don't have balls any more." she sneered as she sat on the open parapet of the tower.
"Enough!" Snape roared as he drew his wand on her.
Suddenly blue light shot out the end of the wand and hit the wall where she sat. The ancient stone crumbled beneath her and before she could react, Phaelan found her self plunging backwards towards the ground below.
Snape stunned for a second at his sudden involuntary release of magic threw himself forward to catch her before she fell. As she slipped through his fingers, he fell to his belly to look down and cast a spell.
"Arresto Dessendum." he yelled while pointing the offending wand at her.
The spell caught her and slowed her fall to next to nothing. To Phaelan, it felt as though she was suddenly dangling from a bungee cord. Gasping for breath, she looked up and saw a shocked Snape holding his wand in her direction. She realized her descent had slowed to inches per second and took the time to catch her breath. Suddenly she stopped entirely. She looked at Snape again and saw a smile cross his face.
Snape had felt utter panic as he watched Phaelan fall from the parapet, he thought only of stopping her death at his hand. The surge of angry uncontrolled magic was worthy of the most immature teen. The spell worked and she had slowed, creators be praised. Taking a moment now to think, Snape realized he had been goaded into his temper by the little hellion below. As his pulse returned to something close to normal, he noticed the courtyard below. She was safe now thanks to his swift reaction. Had she left well enough alone, this incident would never have happened. Snape's Slytherin brain clicked in to save the day for his pride.
He smiled to himself, "Finite dessendum." he cast to stop her slow descent. "Mobilicorpus" was cast next to move her across to the spot where he intended to release her.
Phaelan felt herself start to move sideways. 'What is he up to now?' she wondered to herself. Looking over her shoulder she saw the water fountain approaching and felt a little concerned.
She yelled up to the man above. "I'm okay Severus, you can let me go. I'll be fine." Phaelan looked behind again and the fountain was closer. She realized what he intended.
"Severus Snape, let me down now. You've had your revenge today. LET ME DOWN!" she yelled but he continued to smile and ignore her pleas. She suddenly stopped directly over the water in the basin of the fountain.
"Severus Snape YOU Son of a biiiiiii…." the rest was lost in the sound of a body hitting the water.
Filch and Hagrid ran to help the hapless Muggle out of the fountain where she had been dropped. Phaelan stood and pushed them away as she spluttered and dripped on the tiles.
Pushing her hair out of her eyes, Phaelan looked up and saw he had left the tower. Seething she strode into the castle intent on her own revenge. A great deal of shouting could soon be heard from within.
"Our new perfessr speaks a lot o languages." observed Hagrid hearing Phaelan cursing Snape in Arabic."
"Really. Well it does her no good 'round here if she can't do no magic." sourly replied the squib caretaker.
"I think she's taken to callin' him somethin' nasty in Italian." continued Hagrid still trying to listen.
"Give over man, the word bastard sounds the same in almost every tongue." sneered Filch.
"Aye, well, lets get on then." Hagrid led the way to the edge of the forest.
The bickering between them continued attracting attention from every denizen of the castle. A very angry Dumbledore approached the couple from behind. Neither had seen him coming and had been stunned into silence when he made his presence known.
"ENOUGH!" Dumbledore's voice resounded throughout the castle. His anger was evident not only in his voice and face but in his very presence. The long white locks of hair flitted about as if in a breeze. His robes stood out and an aura appeared to surround his countenance.
"There is a purpose to my plans. YOU, each of you has placed your personal agenda in counterpoint to my commands." Dumbledore observed each of them between narrowed eyes. Both Wizard and Muggle appeared unrepentant. The old man began to pace.
"Severus, you seem to have forgotten your goal, your personal holy grail in our struggle. You were instructed to provide whatever information Phaelan would need in order to perform her job. It apparently has not been forth coming." the Headmaster reminded the dark wizard standing sullenly before him.
Feeling rather smug, Phaelan was sneering at Snape from behind the headmaster.
"Phaelan, take that look off your face madam." demanded Dumbledore as he spun to face her.
"You appear to have quickly forgotten your oath. I gave you explicit instructions to follow Severus lead in dealing with our world. You have disregarded his warnings and placed both of you in harms way."
Drawing himself up to his full height, the Headmaster became a formidable presence.
"Since you, each of you, has lost sight of our goals and turned to juvenile jousting I feel the consequences you should face should fit the manner in which you act." The old man continued to pace.
"A very few short years ago, just before Severus time as a student, it would have meant a public thrashing for each of you for disobeying the Headmasters orders." He turned and looked at his teachers. "Don't imagine for a moment I didn't think about reinstating the practise for the both of you." his pacing resumed.
"I have therefore decided you should just be treated like the youth you are acting like. Follow me." Dumbledore commanded.
Dumbledore walked down a corridor to a room and opened the door.
"Phaelan, welcome to your classroom." he stood to the side to let them both enter the dingy, dirty room. The windows were caked in dirt, the ceiling obscured by cobwebs and dust. Everything had been overtaken by the detritus of time.
"Accio!" Dumbledore commanded and Snape's wand leaped into the Headmaster's hand much to Snape's shock.
"I expect you to clean this room by hand; no magic." the old man advised.
Snape made to protest but was immediately cut off by a gesture from the Headmaster. Waving his hand around, Dumbledore removed the dirt from everything eight feet and higher. Another sweep of his hand and two steaming buckets appeared on the floor along with mops, scrubbing brushes, rags and brooms.
"The brooms are the Muggle kind; not for transportation." the angry Headmaster said pointedly to Phaelan.
"Headmaster, at least let me go to my room and change. I was just dumped in the water trough of your fountain and I'm soaked through." rejoined Phaelan angry at the insinuation that she had any fault.
"I've a good mind to let you stay wet just to cool your temper young woman. Never the less." Dumbledore waved his hand once more and Phaelan felt her clothes immediately dry. Her hair however looked like a Medusan mess.
The old warrior walked to the door and turned once more to them. "This door will be locked until I think you are ready to leave. You may summon an elf for fresh cleaning supplies or refreshment. Otherwise you're on your own."
"So do we like get a bucket to use for a toilet. Even prisoners get something to use in their cells." snarled Phaelan.
Pointing beyond her to a door in the corner, Dumbledore replied to her cheek, "That is your office. It has facilities. I don't attest to their hygiene as they have not been cleaned for nigh on five years." The Headmaster smiled at the look on her face. "You might want to start there; it looks like you might be here for a while." He left closing and warding the door behind him.
Phaelan went to the door and tried the handle only to pull her hand away when something like an electric shock passed through her arm.
"Shit, that hurt." she grimaced shaking her numb hand. Looking over at Snape sitting with one hip on a desk, she snapped. "You might have warned me."
"Experience is the best teacher I find." Snape drawled. "Since this is your fault, I think you should have the privilege of starting in the toilet."
"What do you mean my fault? I wasn't the one who drew a wand on you." Phaelan yelled.
"No, you just trailed me through the castle casting threats and accusations at me for all and sundry to hear. I'm surprised half of Hogsmeade doesn't now know He who must not be named made me a eunuch." roared Snape into Phaelan's face.
Suddenly the booming voice of the headmaster flooded the room.
"This is your last warning. The only thing you're going to get from now until your detention is over is water. No food. If I must intervene one more time, the threat of thrashing will no longer be a threat. GET TO WORK."
Glaring at Snape one last time, Phaelan grabbed one of everything from the cleaning supplies and moved to the office door. Just as she entered the office, Snape heard her utter "Fucking bastard." under her breath. He wasn't sure who she meant. Taking off his robes and frock coat, Snape decided to start on the windows.
The morning passed into the afternoon. Phaelan had cleaned the small powder room off of her filthy office. She had twice sent for clean water and rags. It had taken two hours for the bathroom to become even marginally usable. When she flushed, the water had been filled with rust and other things best not thought about. A dozen flushes later, the water started to clear. The hand basin was just as bad. She then turned to her supposed office.
Snape had cleaned the muck off of the windows and turned to look at the rest of the room. It didn't improve with more light. The illumination just revealed more dirt. He started sweeping the floors prior to mopping them down. The activity reminded him more of his apprenticeship than a detention. Detentions were short; an apprenticeship seemed interminable.
Phaelan came into the classroom again. "The bathroom is usable again but there's no toilet paper."
She had taken a strip of rag and used it to tie her hair into a rough pony tail. Her clothes were smeared with dirt and her nails were broken from scrubbing. Using the back of her hand, Phaelan, unconsciously, wiped her nose streaking more dirt on its end. Severus sat for a moment regarding her as she looked out the windows freshly cleaned. Her appearance reminded him of the Muggle fairy tale of Cinderella. He smiled to himself thinking how lovely she looked in her dirty rags; not that he'd let her know.
With a loud Pop, Polly appeared in the room with a tray. "Polly is bringing you refreshments as ordered by Master Dumbledore." she put the tray down on the cleanest desk she could find. The little elf's nose wrinkled up at the sight of so much dust. She drew her finger across the surface of another desk and rubbed the dirt between her thumb and forefinger.
"Very dirty place. You is doing elf's work here Miss, Master." Polly walked to the tray and looked at it sadly. "All Polly could bring is water." Suddenly she brightened, "Polly can give you a small treat and not break the rules." she declared. Phaelan approached hoping for food as did Snape. Polly snapped her fingers and suddenly another bowl appeared beside the pitcher of water.
"Ice to make your water cold." Polly declared with a giant elfin smile.
Phaelan slumped, "Thank you Polly." The elf disappeared with a snap of her fingers.
Picking up a small cube, Phaelan popped it in her mouth. At Snape's look, she told him "At least you can crunch the ice. It makes you feel as if you're eating."
Following her lead, Snape took some ice. She was right. Must be some psychological thing about chewing he thought.
Phaelan turned and looked at the wizard reduced to scrubbing floors on his knees. His white linen shirt clung to him where he was perspiring in the hot summer afternoon. Without all his black accoutrements, Snape was lean and well toned. The mindless work took the lines from his face and he actually looked his age. Finally the face fit the amazing voice.
They continued scrubbing and wiping for the rest of the afternoon actually coordinating their work to finish faster. The room was becoming darker as the sun moved to the other side of the castle. The place actually didn't look bad now. All the furniture had been washed, the floors scoured upon hands and knees; even the shelving and blackboard had been tackled and conquered.
Phaelan was exploring the desk drawers, they were empty save for dust and dead crawling things. Immune to that now, she took the time to clean them out and think of how she would organize. While Snape walked around the room arranging the students desks into straight rows. Phaelan decided to check out the cupboard to the side.
The exterior doors had been washed but the insides had been left. Phaelan turned the handle and pulled open the right side. Something passed her in a blur of movement and she stumbled backwards to avoid it. She tripped over a chair and landed on her backside on the floor. Looking up, Phaelan saw the shapeless thing suddenly take form.
It was a figure from her recurring nightmares. A young African girl who had been mutilated as Phaelan watched; the CIA handlers had held Phaelan back knowing she would be next if she interfered.
"You can't be here, you died four years ago. You're not here, go away. It wasn't my fault, I wanted to help you. I wanted to." Phaelan shouted as she tried to crawl backwards away from the creature approaching her.
Snape looked up as Phaelan fell and saw the Bogart take the shape of a young African girl who had been a victim of some atrocity. She was missing one arm from the shoulder the other from the elbow and appeared to walk on the bloody knee stumps where her legs had been hacked off. He ran to Phaelan and pulled her to her feet. He looked one last time at the creature and saw the face missing a nose and having the eyeballs hanging from the sockets.
"Its alright it's not real." he said pushing her behind him so that he would be directly in front of the Bogart. The creature changed shape once more and took on the form of the red eyed demonic figure of Voldemort.
Snape snapped his fingers and called "Polly." The little elf appeared immediately and saw what was happening.
"Polly know what to do!" the little elf cried as she ran in front of the Bogart and held her hand out as if to halt the creature.
"You shall not harm the Miss or Master. Go back in the cupboard Back!" Polly commanded and walked forward until the Bogart was once again behind the locked doors of the closet Phaelan had opened.
"Is a nasty creature is a Bogart. "Declared Polly. "Polly will have the housekeeping elves take it away tomorrow Miss." and again disappeared with the snap of her fingers.
Snape turned to Phaelan who was still shaken and whispered. "It's gone; it can't harm you if you don't let it. The spell is simple enough for children to perform with their wand. " He lifted Phaelan's tear streaked dirty face and looked into her eyes.
"I have no magic way to get rid of my fear. No simple spell to take away the feeling of failing another human being so horribly." Phaelan looked into the darkness of the man before her once more. "Was that him?" she asked.
Snape nodded. Without speaking he pulled her to his body and enclosed her in his arms holding her as closely as he could. Phaelan responded wrapping her arms about his waist and burrowing her head in his shoulder. The stood that way for a long time neither wanting to let go. The comfort they shared with each other had been missing from their lives for many years. This was a treasured moment for them; a rare commodity in their dark world.
Phaelan suddenly felt a draught on her bare shoulder. Looking over Severus shoulder, she saw a shadow cast by the edge of the door.
"Look, the door is open." she said breaking the moment.
Releasing her slightly, Snape turned to look keeping one arm firmly around her waist.
"I guess we're free." observed Phaelan in a small voice. She too kept one arm around Severus reluctant to lose what they had just shared.
"Come, we should get out of here before the old fool changes his mind." Snape decided.
Releasing her, he grabbed his robes and coat. He turned and grabbing her hand, led Phaelan out of their Detention room. They walked in silence to the portrait entrance of her room. Phaelan gave her password and made ready to enter.
"I guess I'll see you at dinner in the Great Hall then." she smiled at Snape who still held her hand.
He shook his head. "No." Snape lifted his brow at her answering frown. "In my rooms, 7:00 o'clock."
Looking into his dark eyes, she replied, "Alright; by floo?"
He nodded and kissed her hand before releasing it. As he walked away she heard him call over his shoulder. "Don't forget to wash your face."
As she walked in her door, the lady in her portrait uttered "Tsk, tsk my dear, you look an awful sight."
Phaelan made straight for the bathroom stripping as she went. She didn't immediately look in the mirror. When she finally got a glimpse of herself, Phaelan gasped in shock. Her hair was gnarled and knotted, cobwebs and dust capping her unruly mess. Even worse was her face, tear streaked and filthy with dirt from her labours. Phaelan took a moment to look at her hands which were now engrained with dirt, any pretence of a manicure long gone.
"Polly." Phaelan called "What time is it?" she demanded from the elf when it appeared.
"6:00 o'clock Miss, dinner in the Great Hall." announced Polly.
"I'm having dinner with Professor Snape, Polly, at 7." Phaelan had started the shower and jumped in.
"Oh." answered the elf then suddenly realizing what Phaelan meant. "Oh! Polly is a ladies elf Miss, Polly knows what to do."
Polly was suddenly the happiest elf in Hogwarts at that moment. She was performing the duties her mother and aunts had prepared her for. She went through Phaelan's drawers and pulled out fresh undergarments. Not just any, mind you, only the prettiest, laciest most feminine for her Miss. Then she went to the wardrobe looking for the Miss's evening gowns. There were none. Polly was disappointed. How could she do her job without the proper apparel? What to do?
In the dungeons below, Snape was in a similar quandary. He had summoned Dobby as soon as he entered and commanded him to make his rooms appropriate for a lady visitor who did not like doilies and frippery. He then flooed the kitchens for dinner for two to be served at 7:15. Dobby stood in the middle of the room scratching his head wondering what had happened to the taciturn master.
"Get on with it elf." Snape demanded as he made for his own bathroom. He had never entertained female company in his quarters in all the years he had lived here. Not that he was unfamiliar with entertaining women; it was one of his hobbies. The old Snape preferred to keep it separate from his school life. This was different. Sighing Severus jumped in the shower taking the time to use his scented products instead of the course soap he usually used. Feeling his face, he decided to shave again.
Phaelan stepped out of the shower and towelled off. She had decided to wear the denim skirt she had worn to the dinner her first night. She had started to braid her hair when Polly stopped her. "NO Miss, that is for Polly to do. Come and dress."
Phaelan followed the elf into her bedroom to see clothes laid out on the bed. A capped sleeved cotton dress had been transformed into a long gown with long flowing sleeves to the wrist. All her fancy lingerie had been laid out as well.
"Polly will do your hair Miss." the elf advised inviting Phaelan to sit at the vanity mirror.
6:50 found Phaelan properly coifed and dressed for a Wizards date. One last thing; her grandmother's locket. Polly stood back and assessed her efforts.
"You is as pretty as a picture Miss." pronounced Polly before disappearing.
Phaelan stepped to the fireplace and grabbed the floo powder. Taking a deep breath, she threw it into the hearth and called out for Severus rooms.
Severus had been pacing for ten minutes wondering what he would do if she didn't come. Ignore her or march to her portrait and demand an explanation. His previous attempts at a relationship with a Muggle had been all fucked up. Looking at his attire, Snape wondered if perhaps he should have been more casual than the dark green silk shirt and black slacks he wore.
His wand had been on the mantle waiting for his return. It was now in his fingers as he fiddled with the candles to have the light just so. His fears were allayed when the flames in the fireplace turned green allowing his vision of the previous night to step through.
Approaching Phaelan as she crossed his hearth, Severus offered his hand to her. She looked up and smiled. Snape's breath was momentarily taken from him. Her eyes sparkled with warmth and her smile reached all of her face. He could not recall any woman sparing a look like that for only him.
Phaelan stepped through the flames to see Severus offering his hand to her. She had never been shown so much courtesy as she had from this man, when he deigned to show it. His attentions made her feel special. Phaelan could not recall feeling more excited or happy than she did at that moment when Severus welcomed her to his chambers. This must be what it's like to be young and free, she thought.
Dinner passed in a haze of inane conversation, wine and good food. Standing at the end of the meal, Severus took Phaelan by the hand and led her to the sofa facing the fireplace. Dobby had managed to transform his bachelor quarters into something softer with flowering plants, colourful cushions and scented candles. The flickering light in the room was perfect for quiet company content to sit closely together and enjoy the moment of peace.
"I've had a wonderful evening, Severus. I'm just sorry I was such a bitch to you earlier. I really didn't know how to get through to you about what I need to do my job." Phaelan was holding his hand in both of hers. She raised it to her mouth and kissed his fingers.
Freeing his hand from hers, Severus cupped her cheek, gently rubbing his thumb over her lips.
"I can't help but feel protective about you Phaelan. I've seen too many Muggles hurt. It's hard to come to terms with how potentially dangerous you are. You will need to keep reminding me. Just no more talk of castration please." Shape smiled and began to pull her face towards him.
Phaelan smiled at his comment, "I promise, no more talk of….that and you will understand I do regard all men as my peers lest we have any doubt of who takes the lead in what." She finally let herself sink into his darkness, reaching to touch his lips with a finger.
Close enough now to feel the heat from each others breath, both closed their eyes and leaned forward the fraction of space to kiss. A small chaste kiss that seemed to break down a barrier.
Reaching with both hands to hold her head, Snape pulled his woman, as he thought of her, into a deep exploring embrace. Her response was as deep as his, opening her mouth, pulling him in to taste and be tasted. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, Phaelan sought to keep him with her as long as she could.
Pulling away long enough to pull her legs up to lie beside his on the deep sofa, he pushed her back onto the cushions and leaned over her to continue their exploration. Phaelan sighed as he kissed her closed eyes, her nose, and her chin.
"You looked beautiful today standing in the mire of that classroom with your hair tied back with a rag and grime coating your face." he told her as he nipped her lips.
Phaelan laughed. "You were no picture of perfection sir, all cobwebs and sweaty dirt. God you looked soooh sexy." she murmured into his ear.
"Mmmmh, don't let Albus hear you say that or he'll lay claim to a new matchmaking service," he mumbled into her neck as she giggled.
"Severussss. Do you know how erotic your name sounds when I whisper it in your ear?" Phaelan was stroking his back and licking his ear driving Severus to distraction.
"Only when you say it. "Was his whispered reply as he took possession of her lips again in a deep kiss that blocked out all other reality.
Unfortunately, reality came crashing back to earth with the burning pain of a summons from the Dark Lord. Snape sat up with a gasp and clasped his left arm to his chest.
"Severus…" Phaelan gasped as she was wrenched from her reverie.
He lifted her off his legs to sit on the sofa, both striving to catch their breath as they separated. Rising, Snape began his mental preparation for the meeting.
"Go to Albus and tell him I've been summoned. He will explain further." Snape instructed.
"How do you know?" Phaelan wondered in fear for him.
"The Mark." He answered showing her the now red tattoo on his left arm. "Now go." he commanded turning to become the Death eater Snape.
Phaelan flooed back to her rooms and quickly changed into her usual jeans and sweater. Exiting her portrait she ran to the Headmaster's office to tell him about Severus. When she saw the gargoyles she realized she didn't know the password.
"Headmaster, I need to see you. Please let me in." she yelled at the stone statue.
"Of course my dear." Dumbledore answered directly behind her. "You have something you need to tell me."
Smiling at her with a gentle twinkle, Dumbledore knew what she was about to say.
"Severus has been summoned, he told me to tell you." Phaelan simply said.
"Come." the old man said as he led her to his office and bid her to sit.
"You want to know what the summoning is all about." Stated Dumbledore. At her nod he continued. "Voldemort uses the mark placed upon his followers as a summons. The Deatheaters are all linked through it to Tom."
"Tom?" wondered Phaelan.
"Tom Riddle, the boy who became the creature known as Voldemort." answered the old man sadly.
"You knew him?" Phaelan wondered.
"I was one of his teachers. "the old man sadly replied. "When he summons his followers, they must attend him. If they fail to do so they are punished or worse. Severus is well known to Tom; he works on potions for him. In that capacity, Severus is often privy to information that otherwise would be lost to the Order. "Dumbledore stood and walked to the windows.
"In his other capacity, my Potions Master is a spy for Voldemort. He carries information back to his other master. Usually information I've given him." Albus turned and looked at her again. "He has my full confidence that he is working for me and that his other master is suffering the ruse."
"How long do the meetings go on?" Phaelan asked "What do they do?"
"Organize, plan and execute Voldemorts orders." Dumbledore answered the second question first. "Tom is often want to reward good service and will have a prize or two for the faithful. Rape, sodomy, torture, nothing too great for his faithful to enjoy. They take as long as necessary."
"Severus takes part in this…this atrocity?" asked Phaelan through her suddenly dry mouth.
"He does what he must. I do not press for details." Dumbledore answered honestly. "I do know he has saved many from the excruciating torture that some of Tom's followers enjoy."
"How?" she asked still numb from the Headmaster's revelation.
"Through peaceful eternal rest." was the answer.
Snape returned much later in the evening. He had returned to the Three Broom Sticks and flooed in to the Headmaster's office. As soon as he stepped through the flames, it was evident he had been injured. As he tried to stand he collapsed to one knee and appeared to have spasms in his extremities.
"Severus, you're injured my boy." said Dumbledore as he sought to support Snape as he rose.
"I did not please my other master this evening." Snape croaked. "I had no information on the Grangers so to weaken their daughter." Another spasm wracked his body and he fell to the floor.
The head master flooed the hospital wing and transported Snape there with terse instruction for Phaelan to return to her rooms and remain there for the night.
Speechless for once, Phaelan did as instructed and wondered again at what manner of man Severus Snape was. She returned to her rooms not ready to sleep. Instead she pulled out some books on magic curses to see if she could figure out what had happened to Snape. Reading late into the night, she finally found a nasty curse that appeared to fit the symptoms Severus was suffering. The Cruciatus Curse, an unforgivable curse so named because of the consequences of using it. Reading further, Phaelan noticed a list of the physical reactions of the body to the curse, muscle spasms during and after the casting of the curse, excruciating pain in all the extremities, affects to the heart and lungs, eventually with extended use damage to the brain. Phaelan closed the book wondering how the Magical world dealt with it. She shook her head, something was familiar about some of the symptoms of the curse, she wasn't sure what yet. Rising, she decided a hot bath was needed followed by an attempt at sleep.
Tuesday morning dawned to a dull, damp day. Pulling out the skipping rope when she got up, Phaelan kept up her routine exercise. After bathing, she went to the Great Hall to find most of the staff already there.
"Did I miss something?" Phaelan asked as she approached the table.
"No, dear." smiled Minerva, "This is the day Madam Malkin sets aside for teachers to get a discount on new robes. You wouldn't have got the letter as you don't have your licence yet."
"How many schools are there?" Phaelan wondered.
"Well," began Pomona Sprout, "you have your Great Henge School of True Druids. The Academy of Pagan arts and that funny school down in Jersey, what's it called Minerva?" She asked.
"You mean the one where they run around nude in the summer?" wondered the older teacher.
"I think I saw a job at that school?" said an amazed Phaelan.
"What?" was the surprised reaction around the table.
"Yeah, they advertised on the internet too." laughed Phaelan but at the stares was quick to reassure the company present, "You guys were first." The table guests relaxed back into their seats assured of their place in internet history.
"Miss McKenzie, I have been asked to help you conduct your preliminary experiments with your instruments to measure wand magic. I thought my class would be the best place. Would that be suitable for you?" asked the ever gentile Professor Flitwick.
"Very good, I'll call for you at your rooms in an hour and help transport the necessary parts you need." He smiled and bowed leaving the table.
"What about Severus, how is he Headmaster?" Phaelan quietly asked.
With a small smile and a pat on her hand, the old man tried to reassure her. "He is resting well. Madam Pomfrey has dealt with this before. Not to worry."
"Can I visit him?" She hated how it sounded, like a child asking a favour from a parent.
"Not just yet. Soon." the old man twinkled leaving her just a little put out but after yesterday, Phaelan didn't want to push him face to face.
The day passed fruitfully if not contentedly for Phaelan. She couldn't get Severus off her mind. It took all her discipline to concentrate on her experiments, tests she had hoped to share with Snape. The diminutive Flitwick was positively jovial all day making it hard to feel let down but the joy was lessened for her.
Unable to take the waiting any longer, Phaelan went to the hospital wing later in the evening and found the doors open. Quietly, she entered and looked at the beds finally seeing one occupied near the end of the ward. Looking around again, Phaelan quickly made her way to Snape's side. His face was tense while he slept as if still in pain. She so much wanted to touch him, to take away the pain but was afraid she would cause him more discomfort. As Severus moved in his sleep, she noticed small spasms in the muscles of his hand. Unable to resist, Phaelan took the hand nearest to her and began to massage gently with her thumb directly over the area of the spasm. It seemed to relax a bit. Emboldened, she continued with his other hand, both arms and his feet.
Phaelan didn't see the Mediwitch and Headmaster enter. Madam Pomfrey made towards the bed but was held back by Dumbledore. A long time later, he indicated she should approach and tell Phaelan she should leave.
"Miss McKenzie, I don't believe you have permission to be here." the Mediwitch began gently.
"I had to see him. In the navy, when our partner is hurt, we're expected to help them recover. I just gave some gentle massage." Phaelan offered. There was no guilt in her tone. She felt righteous in her actions.
Poppy pulled her wand and cast a diagnostic over Snape. The dark red patches revealed where the curse still acted. Surprisingly, where Phaelan had massaged, the curse had dissipated or lessened.
"You seemed to have helped him, Phaelan." she smiled. "Between you and me, I think we'll keep it a secret for now."
Phaelan just nodded as she sat holding his hand.
Snape had been released to his rooms the next day and joined her and Flitwick on Thursday for the experiments. Walking down the hallway, Dumbledore stopped for a moment to look in the classroom. He smiled in contentment. Here were three scholars, recognized as experts in their fields, arguing, debating, positing and refuting theories. This was a sight Dumbledore had only ever dreamt of, when Muggle scientist and wizard Master might put their heads together and work to a common goal. If only his students could see this and understand the importance of the three brilliant minds standing in this simple classroom. Satisfied, the old man turned and continued his walk, happy he had been privy to this moment in time.
Rising on Saturday, Phaelan dressed and made ready to become a US Navy pilot again. She donned the one piece flight suit and went to breakfast. As she entered the Great Hall, one by one, her colleagues stared.
"It's a flight suit. We wear it when we are piloting a plane. It's practical and with the pressure…..Never mind. It's regulation, okay." She sat and looked at kippers with dismay.
She tapped her plate. "Toast and a hard boiled egg."
"Do you enjoy flying Phaelan?" Asked Madam Hooch.
"Yeah, ever since I got my licence. I get such a feeling of freedom when I'm up there." she replied as she munched on her toast.
"I know what you mean. The first time I took off on a broom, I thought nothing could possibly be better than this and I still feel that way." smiled the flying instructor.
"A jet plane isn't quite a broom though." offered Phaelan.
"Well I read about how Muggles fly and they use something called a stick to control the airplane, don't they?" Asked Hooch.
"Yes, I guess we do even though there's a lot more to it than just that." replied Phaelan trying to humour the woman.
"Well, there you go!" She declared, "we do have something in common. There's nothing quite like having a sturdy stick between your legs to make you feel like you're the mistress of the world."
Phaelan wondered exactly where the conversation was going but jumped on board for the ride.
"So Hooch, do you prefer a loose stick that moves at the slightest twitch of your hand or a firm one that you need to be forceful with?" Asked Sprout oblivious to the double meaning of her question.
Snape, to Phaelan's right snorted into his coffee. She kicked him softly under the table.
"Well, both types have their advantages but I really enjoy a good sturdy stick between my thighs. Something thick enough that you can feel it when you tighten up your muscles for the high climb." Hooch appeared to grab the broomstick in front of her.
"You can't go wrong with a nice thick stick between your legs that will let you ride for a good long time without getting tired. Something to grab onto with both hands not this skinny stuff designed for speed they pass off today. I like a big one and a long steady ride." declared Hooch much to the quiet amusement of the table.
Phaelan excused herself shortly after the Potions Master. He had left pleading a potion requiring his attention but had wanted to see Phaelan off.
Phaelan was in her chambers ready to floo when a knock came to her door.
"Come in." she called.
"I want to come with you." It was Severus dressed in Muggle attire.
Phaelan was stunned. While she had seen him in transfigured clothes, the dark grey slacks, grey Polo shirt and black blazer were a departure she had not expected. This man never failed to surprise her just as she thought she had him pegged.
"I've made no arrangements to bring a guest on base. I have no authority………" she tried to explain.
"Then I'll come to your flat and wait. I want to check it for any intrusion and add extra wards anyways." he interrupted stepping closer to her.
"I'll be gone for a few hours" she warned.
"Do you have time to show me your computer if we leave now?" he asked now holding her hand.
"Well that's an original line." Phaelan smiled. "Lets go and make a hacker out of you." she teased as she stepped into the green flames.
"A what?" Snape asked as he followed her through.
Phaelan opened her computer and instructed him on the basics. He did learn quickly she had to admit. After warning him about the delete key, she left him to his diversion. Grabbing her bag and keys, Phaelan kissed him on the cheek as she left for the air base. Severus touched his face where her kiss had landed. It had been a casual act if one were to have seen it he supposed but no one had ever given him such a leave taking before. He decided he liked it.
Phaelan reported in to the Air Sergeant on duty and went to the pilot's locker room to get ready. She greeted a couple of male pilots there and dressed in her equipment. Later as she walked to the flight line, Phaelan ruminated on all that had transpired since the last time she was here. So much in such a short time; she never wanted to back to her old life now. Her future lay in Hogwarts, she was certain of it.
After an uneventful if enjoyable flight, Phaelan went to sign off on her flight log. At the counter, she noticed a sign pointing to forms 'Request for flight pass for non military.' Walking over she lifted the package.
"All right, Lt. Commander, you're booked for the same time next month, is that okay?" asked the Non-com behind the counter.
"Yes, that's fine Sergeant. Sergeant, how long has this program been going on?" Phaelan asked indicating the form in her hand.
"Just started Ma'am, new public relations idea. It's not free though, I think they're charging 200.00 US."
"I see, thank you sergeant." Phaelan smiled to herself as she left.
Snape had spent the day engrossed with the computer. So much information at ones fingertips so quickly. When he tired of sitting he got up and browsed the library. Looking out of the front windows, he looked at the Thames River and wondered what history this site had once held and what history he could leave behind. Thinking back to his first visit, Snape was emboldened to seek out her bedroom. Still no female frippery just bold colours and geometric patterns. There was a picture beside her bed. He saw it was Phaelan several years younger and older woman, likely her grandmother. On top of the dresser, there was another group picture of men and women in uniform. She did not appear to be in the photo. On the back of the frame there was a panel containing several signatures from, Snape assumed, the people on the front.
He was leaving her room when he heard the front door open. He ducked into the bathroom and flushed the toilet to cover himself.
"Severus, I'm home." she called. "Hope you weren't too bored."
"No, I've had a pleasantly quiet day of research on your computer and your library. Now, if you like, I'd like to take you out for dinner. Assuming you have something else to wear here."
"Casual or formal?" she asked.
"Casual definitely." was the answer.
Phaelan went to her room and found the same suit she wore for her first interview. Coming back to the living room, she saw Snape look at her strangely. "What is it?"
"Why do Muggle women insist on wearing pants?" he asked.
"Because they're comfortable and practical." she answer matter-of-factly.
Snape just shook his head and took her hand. "Come my practical one."
They went outside to the spot they had apparated from before. Pulling her close without discomfort now he took them both to a Wizarding establishment which also catered to Muggles.
"Where are we?" asked Phaelan
"Edinburgh." he replied as he escorted her to the old brick building the restaurant was located in.
They enjoyed an early dinner and decided to walk. The summer daylight lasted long into the evening in Scotland. Having seen enough of the old streets, Snape apparated them to a seaside Wizarding village to walk on the shore and watch the sunset. Sitting on a pier they were content just to be together.
Suddenly, a scream rang out in the just now dark village. The sound of shouts and running followed shortly after. Coming off the pier, the couple headed towards the disturbance. All at once a green light from a wand shot up into the air coming to form the same symbol that appeared on Snape's arm.
"We have to get out of here now." Snape ordered as her grabbed her arm.
"What was that thing?" Phaelan asked.
Looking angrily back at the hated mark in the sky he uttered only one word. "Morsmordre."