A/N: My gratitude to the Guest who left the recent review encouraging me to return to this piece. I had all but forgotten about it due to my current work on original, non-fanfic Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. To learn more please see my profile or message me.
Dr. Cornwell
I looked up from my desk as a figure dressed in black from head to toe stepped into my doorway. He was tall and held himself confidently as his hands rested on a cane before him.
"Can I help you?"
"Pardon my interruption, Ma'am," he stated with a bow causing his long blond locks to fall before his pale eyes. Tucking his strands back in place he smiled. "I am Lucius Malfoy. I believe I have some information that may be helpful regarding your escaped charges."
I stood and crossed the room to offer this gentleman a handshake. "Mr Malfoy, welcome. I am Dr Gina Cornwell, head Psychiatrist and Director of St Dymphna's. Please have a seat."
I crossed back behind my desk and sat. "Now, Sir. What do you know of my missing patients?"
"Well, specifically I know of Severus Snape. You see, before his 'condition' overtook his faculties, we were quite close."
The press release had not included names, only photos and as far as I was aware, had not actually been shown to the public as of yet, only the authorities. "I see. What was your relationship with Mr Snape?"
"We were colleagues of sorts."
"So you also taught at Hogwarts?"
Malfoy raised an eyebrow as a look of surprise quickly passed his eyes and faded. "No Ma'am. We worked together for an organization I am not at liberty to discuss further, but I can tell you he is a highly trained and skilled individual and very possibly dangerous in the right situation."
My mind immediately considered in what way Mr Snape and Mr Malfoy may have been highly trained and for what reason. My first thoughts were regarding governmental agencies which would certainly fit with his lack of public records identity and probably also his strange knack for entering places he was not permitted and escaping and locked-down mental facility. "Do you know of the woman he is with?"
"A woman. Interesting. I do not know of her. If you would divulge some details, perhaps I could be of further assistance."
"A young woman claiming to be a former student of his only recently admitted here. I cannot give you further details due to confidentiality."
"Lavender Brown, I presume."
"Yes. How did you come of this information?"
"Again, I am not at liberty to say. Do they have wands...er weapons?"
I wondered if my ears had misheard his mention of wands but as I replayed his words in my mind, I was convinced he had. "They did not when they left here to our knowledge."
"Good. As I am sure you are aware, she has a history of being very unpredictable."
"Do you have a sense where he might be headed?" I caught his eyes and attempted to decipher his thoughts.
"Yes." He did not break they eye contact as a small smile crossed his face.
"Where?"
"At what time exactly do you think they escaped?"
I decided to answer his question even though he had evaded mine in hopes of gaining further information from this mysterious man. "There was a commotion in the yard shortly after midnight. We presume that to be the timing of their escape."
"Severus has not returned to his home so we presume he is headed to London. I hope that information will be helpful. It is a big countryside however, so I wish you luck in locating him."
The 'we' in his response caught my interest. With whom was he affiliated? Were they too also seeking Mr Snape. If they found him first, would they return him?
"Thank you for your time, Ma'am. I assure you, should we locate Mr Snape and Ms Brown we will attempt to return them to your care as soon as possible."
I stared after him as he left with a distinct feeling that he had taken the words directly from my thoughts.
Severus Snape
The morning had passed without event as I passed out in the cool shade beneath the bridge in complete exhaustion. My limbs still ached even as Ms Brown awoke me in the afternoon throwing a garment in my face. As I stretched myself awake, I watched her. Clearly she had not joined me in sleep. I could see in the growing darkness beneath her eyes and the weeds and leaves clinging to her chopped strands. Despite that, her eyes echoed of distress and her body twitched with restlessness.
I almost gasped aloud as Ms. Brown pulled free of the nondescript beige shirt to change into the clothing she had located while I slept. I knew I should not be staring, but I could not pull my eyes from the deep scars that crisscrossed her otherwise flawless but ashen skin. My eyes traveled across her body down to the waistband of her scrubs beneath which the scars continued. As I contemplated the marks, I realized this girl was lucky to be alive. I wondered for an instant if her pain had compared to mine, as my hand stroked my own disfigured skin.
When she finally noticed my eyes on her, she turned her body away to take the scars out of my sight. "They are hideous. I know," she said, her voice cracking. She quickly pulled the stolen garment over her head and smoothed it down.
I too began to change my attire in an attempt to distract from my inappropriate stares. "Think of them as badges of courage, Ms. Brown. At least they were earned honorably." My lip curled slightly as I thought of what my own scars might symbolize; cowardice, betrayal, weakness, poor judgment?
I watched as the girl's fingers caressed her collarbone gently. She smiled weakly, but it was the first smile I had seen from her since our strange reunion. "I will try." She looked down at her ensemble. The stolen shirt and rubber boots effectively covered any signs of the St. Dymphna's logo. Then she laughed. "This is absolutely ridiculous. We look like vagrants"
"An improvement over escaped mental patients," I responded coldly pulling my own rubber footwear into place.
"Indeed!" She then attempted to calm her wild mane with her fingers with little success so instead started to pick free the leaves and twigs from the mess.
"Give me your shirt," I ordered, and she tossed the discarded scrub top towards me. I combined it with my own top in a pile on the ground at my feet. I bent down and placed a hand over them and whispered "Incendio" as I concentrated on the thought of fire; the smell of its smoke; the taste of soot on the tongue, the heat against cold skin; the crackling of combustion; and the flickering of flame. Soon I could feel the thoughts transfer and the small flame sprung to life beneath my palm.
Ms. Brown was staring with her mouth slightly agape. "I've never seen wandless magic before."
I could not help the small flicker of pride as I shook my head. "Of course you have," I scoffed. "We are all capable of such things. It simply takes a disciplined mind to control them."
We watched our clothing melt into oblivion. "Let's continue, shall we?" My sudden comment caused Ms. Brown to startle, and I made a mental note to attempt to be less caustic in the future. The girl's nerves were extremely fragile, and I felt a bizarre protective urge towards her suddenly.
As we walked, a recurring thought continued to haunt me. Finally, I could take the curiosity no longer. I cleared my throat loudly. "What did you say to Greyback to cause him to be so brutal with you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Greyback relishes in the process of the change. He would never do anything to risk a bite being unsuccessful, so why did he allow himself to nearly kill you?"
"Oh…" She stopped and I could see a small smile in her eyes. "I asked him if he was the Dark Lord's lap-dog or just his Bitch." Then her lip curled in disdain. "Apparently I hit a nerve…"
"Apparently…" I shook my head. Stupid Gryffindors. They never did know when to shut their mouths.
Lavender Brown
I replayed the vision of Professor Snape setting our clothing ablaze in my head over and over. How I longed to possess such skill, especially now when energy flowing through me begged so desperately to be released. Instead I could only move around restlessly as I led us further towards where I thought London may be as the Professor followed at his painfully slow pace which in reality was likely the pace of any normal human. Unfortunately, I no longer fit into that category.
I dashed ahead keeping him within my sight but far enough not to have to hear his heartbeat playing in my ears or detect his scent teasing my nose. Why did my mind keep taking me to places I did not want to be? It was not like I felt any attraction towards him,and yet my thoughts toyed with visions of his skin against mine, his voice in my ear, his taste on my lips. The hairs on my body stood as a shiver ran through me. I tried to consider the source of these feelings as I glanced up at the waning moon rising in the distance. It was simply that he was the first to glance on the disgusting disfigurements without turning away in revulsion. Even my own parents failed to look at the marred skin without cringing. He instead saw them and mentioned them without wincing and even found it within him to say possibly the only words that could have given any solace in that moment. In fact, if only briefly, an emotion that echoed pride passed over me before being buried yet again.
A/N: All reviews welcome and encouraging. I have many more scenes of this story complete, however, they need to be connected together and filled in before being ready to post. Thank you again for all support.
