Dr Cornwell

St Dymphna's suddenly became home to several new strange characters, which considering its usual residents, was a notable statement. At their head was a pleasant, red-headed gentleman with an relaxed demeanor and eclectic sense of style.

"Doctor, I am Ronald Weasley. I will be heading up this investigation from here on out. Inspector Jones felt your case fell within our jurisdiction given some of the details recently uncovered." Mr Weasley nodded as he took a seat in the chair across from my desk.

I searched his long suit jacket looking for some sort of badge or markings. "And what is your team exactly, Mr Weasley?"

"We are Aurors. My team excels in cases which might seem impossible or unbelievable to local law officials."

"Or even magical?" I leaned in.

He cleared his throat. "Um, well. I am unsure what Inspector Jones told you, but -"

"Mr. Weasley. I am no threat. I have no motive other than the safe return of my patients. I hope you will trust me enough to allow me to help you accomplish that goal. And perhaps, in doing so, you might allow me to better treat them once they have returned."

"I understand your concern. I am just not sure you fully understand mine. I have been told that one of your missing patients is Severus Snape."

"I believe so, yes. But I only recently discovered his true identity, or at least his true name as his identity is still somewhat a mystery to me. When he arrived here he either wouldn't or couldn't tell me and he had no identification. The authorities attempted to identify him but no matching missing persons reports or other means ever presented itself. So he remained Unidentified Male 276, otherwise known as Sir."

"Then why do you believe him to be Severus Snape now?" He glanced down at his notes in his lap scrawled onto what appeared to be parchment in a leather bound notebook.

"Lavender believed him to be so, and he did not seem to argue -"

"Excuse me... Lavender Brown? She is the missing female?" He flipped through his notes with a look of confusion.

"Yes. Why?"

"I, um, Inspector Jones must not have included her first name in his report."

I watched him for a moment as several emotions seemed to play across his features. "You know her, don't you?"

"Yes. We have...history." He paused and glanced up. "We attended the same school."

"Then you can confirm, Mr Snape was her teacher, yes?"

"Yes."

"What did he teach?"

"Various science classes."

"Potions perhaps?"

"Yes. Among others. But how?" He raised an eyebrow.

I pushed the copies of Mr Snape's journal pages across the desk and watched as he flipped through them. I followed with the medical record note from the day Ms Brown and Sir met for the first time after her arrival. I had previously highlighted Ms Brown's words 'bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death...Professor Severus Snape, Potions Master and dark wizard. One of the most powerful of our time. Probably the most powerful now.'

I gave him a moment to review the documents before adding, "Are you aware of any sort of relationship they might have shared prior to arriving here?"

"Only one of mutual disdain as most of us shared for him."

"He must have been there when she was injured."

"Yes. Although I doubt he witnessed it."

"Was he somehow the cause of her injuries?"

"In a way, yes. But not directly." He continued to stare at the papers before him, avoiding my eye contact.

"Did you witness it, Mr Weasley? Do you know what happened to her? What happened to him?"

He glanced up, and his eyes narrowed. "Severus Snape has the potential to be very dangerous, Doctor. Did you witness anything unusual?"

"Not directly. But as I am sure Inspector Jones documented, he had an uncanny knack for getting through locked doors, starting fires, and all the other residents, except Ms Brown, feared him. And she had an odd affect on the patients as well, although I'm not exactly sure how or why, a strange energy about her that the others sensed."

"I would like permission for my team to interview your patients one on one."

"Of course. But you must know, the patients here are some of the most severe cases."

"You'd be surprised what even the ramblings of an unsound mind can lend to our investigations. Someone likely knows more than has yet been revealed." He smiled. "You told Inspector Jones they were unarmed. Is that true?"

"Yes."

"Including anything that might be considered a stake or a wand or a broom?"

"Mr Snape's wand had been removed from him at the time of his original apprehension by the authorities. I believe Ms Brown's wand remains in the possession of her parents as I overheard her asking them to bring it to her. I did not realize brooms were of any concern, but I do not believe they had access to anything of that sort."

He laughed briefly. "You lack the skepticism I expected when I first received this assignment, Dr Cornwell. Only certain brooms which I doubt are standard issue among your janitorial staff."

"It's Gina, please. I've been doing this job for a long time and have dealt with many difficult and seemingly unusual cases in that time. There was something about these two patients that did not ever quite fit the mold of psychosis or any psychiatric diagnoses really. Something that made me question if there was truth in the things in which they were so convinced."

I sighed. "Anyway, I will cooperate in any way possible. I know you and I come from very different Worlds, but I only hope you will come to trust me, Mr Weasley."

"I will partner with you in this as possible." He stood. "But there is much need for discretion. The news of Mr Snape's survival has caused quite a stir among those who know of him and his past."

"I have told no one but Inspector Jones of my suspicions. Like I said before, my only interest is the safety of my patients. I fear my lack of awareness of certain things I previously thought impossible has caused them both harm. I hope to undo that harm, but first I need to find them." I chose to keep my interests in satisfying my own curiosity quite at the moment, sensing that it would not work in my favor.

"They will be found."

"Thank you."

Lavender Brown

We had a wand. Finally, something was turning in our direction. I never thought Draco would listen to me, after everything we'd been through in the past, but I must have underestimated his connection to Severus. The motive was moot now, however, because we had his wand, whatever the reason.

Despite this fortunate change in events, the hole building within me continued to spew its emptiness like an erupting volcano in my gut. As I stared at the wand in Severus's hand I tried to will some joy, and when that failed, some jealousy or some anger, but nothing came. Even as I felt my own powers swell at the sight of the wand and my fingers clench beside me as I imagined the feel of it within my grasp, only an echo of desire penetrated the numbness hanging heavy on my limbs. Pressing my back against the far wall, I slid to the floor with a sigh.

Staring at the door, I tried to bring forth some of my former hatred for Draco but even that failed. I replayed memories of how he had convinced me to join him in the Room of Requirement one night when we had both been out after curfew. I did it hoping Ron Weasley would notice the attention he was paying me, but hadn't planned on Draco being so charming. He easily convinced me he thought I was something special and had me wanting him in that moment. Such silly things in retrospect. We were so young, and still so clueless. Even the memories that had so easily brought tears, frustration, and disgust the day prior, meant nothing now.

Severus tucked the newly acquired wand into his sleeve and checked to make sure it was well hidden within the folds of the black robes before moving to join me on the floor.

"It seems this ridiculous plan might have some chance of success. It was quick thinking asking him for the wand."

I shrugged. "I did not actually imagine he would do it." I rested my head against the wall.

"I know this is difficult for you, but you must remain strong, Lavender."

"I cannot. I don't have it in me."

"You have already proven that false."

His hand grasped my knee and something within me stirred. I chewed my lower lip as I glanced over at him. "Why does it matter?"

"I am not sure it does."

"That's comforting," I snorted as I placed my hand over his. Again, the physical contact pulled something forth from within the emptiness, and before I could stop it, tears streamed down my face.

He pulled his hand away but instead of leaving me to sob pathetically on the floor as I had expected, his arm wrapped around my shoulders bringing more uncontrollable emotion. As his hand rested on my shoulder, he allowed me to bury my face into the robes on his chest.

Why was I feeling this way? I never felt anything during this time in the cycle unless I resorted to self harm to elicit at least some physical pain. But the pain that churned within my chest was much worse than any self-inflicted burn or cut I'd ever experienced, even magical ones.

"I … I just… want to be normal again."

"I have a plan for you, Lavender. When this is over, we can start."

Severus Snape

I hadn't meant to reveal my theory to Lavender in that moment, I simply hoped to offer some words of comfort. When she pulled away from me to look up with her tearful grey eyes, I sighed.

"There is no cure for lycanthropy, you know Lavender."

"Fuck. Of course, I know that. I am proof of that. I live it daily. But what do you think can be done for me?" She continued to beg for a response silently with her gaze.

"I think it's unwise to discuss things further now. We need to focus on the task at hand." I tried to pull her close again, but she remained with her eyes locked on mine.

"Damnit! Severus, please? Don't tease me like this. Do you really have a plan?"

"Yes. But it will require strength and commitment and risk on your part, which is why I think we should discuss the details at a later time. We have other pressing matters to attend to at this moment."

Her eyes continued to search mine until the tension fell from her shoulders, and she moved back against the wall on my side. "Promise me?"

"Yes. If we ever get out of this place, I will tell you and you may decide if you are willing to try." I had a strong suspicion that in her current state if she knew my plan required months of training and preparation before she'd be ready to even attempt it, she would not give it any further consideration. If I had thought about it several days ago when her energy was peaking, perhaps she would have been more receptive. But then again, I would not have thought her capable of such a thing then nor do I have access to the proper supplies to undertake such training.

"Thank you." Her eyes closed as her hand reached to squeeze mine.

Merlin! Something within me begged me to reach out and touch the witch again, but instead I responded with a gentle pressure on her hand and sighed.

She leaned her head against my shoulder and echoed the sigh. "I am completely useless at this point."

"Only if you believe that."

"I do."

"Then we are doomed to fail."

"You have a wand now. You don't need me."

I shook my head. "I haven't needed to battle other powers in years, and we are clearly outnumbered."

She huffed. "I meant what I said before. You are probably the most powerful wizard alive, Severus. Everyone in that room downstairs still worships you. Draco practically thanked you for taking his wand. You could probably just ask them to reconsider and they would."

Shaking my head again, I gave her hand another squeeze. "I attempted that already. Clearly, you overestimate me."

"Perhaps. But I bet most of these arses do too." She shrugged.

She made a valid point. Our true capabilities were not nearly as important as what those around us felt we possessed. In fact, those fools really had no idea of Ms Brown's true capabilities. I glanced over at her wondering if she really was spent, or if she could pull it together yet again. "I believe I have a plan."

A/N: I really need inspiration to finish this project so if you are still with me, share the love. What do you think Snape has in mind for Lavender's condition? What is his plan for stopping Lucius and his gang? Thoughts on my interpretation of the characters? What of the relationship between Lavender and Severus? Anything really - your feedback keeps me motivated. Thank you in advance!