Lavender Brown

My thoughts spun. Severus promised he had a plan for me if only we could escape this place and succeed in protecting the Potters. And he had a plan for that too. Something twisted deep within,breaking through the numbness. A glimmer of hope maybe?

He knew something the other experts failed to see. Without question, I trusted his plan had chance of success despite the failures of some many others I had tried. I looked over at him, hoping for some further hint of what he had in mind.

He watched me, curiosity in his gaze. "Do you think you have the strength to help with a bit of a ruse, Lavender?"

I sighed, grasping the bit of hope I had felt moments before to help fight through the catatonia that threatened to take me at any moment. My previous outburst of emotion seemed to have stolen what was left within me, leaving me feeling even more desolate than usual. I cleared my throat. "What did you have in mind?"

"A fake vision. Something that might make them reconsider their plans, or something that might make them include us. Anything that will get us free from this place long enough."

That something twisted within the emptiness of my chest again, very deep but undeniable. I swallowed and nodded. I replayed my original vision which burned in my thoughts as clear as if it had happened seconds before rather than weeks before.

"But what would bad enough them to abort their plans? It must be something very convincing," I mumbled. "Aurors?"

"No. How would they know?" Severus replied with an uncharacteristic sigh.

"Can we assume our escape has become known among the Wizarding World by now?"

"Yes. I believe it has been. Certainly the Muggle World knows so by now it has spread. And since you revealed us to the Muggle doctor…"

My face burned hot. "Yes. I should have never -"

"That is not important now."

"Maybe a warning… a vision of Ginny or Harry receiving a warning and canceling their plans."

"Yes. That is good. But from who or where?"

I stood, my joints stiff, and stared out the frosted window. I could not see the moon, but I knew it grew thin. We were running out of time. "Greyback. He has not returned since he attacked me and left angry. They already do not trust him."

He stood behind me, close but just far enough to avoid contact. Hints of both disappointment and relief bounced against the hollowness of my chest. I at once craved touch and space. I chomped my lower lip hard, bringing a stinging pain. When finally the metallic taste of blood reached my tongue, I released.

"Yes. Greyback. But he would never go to the Potters directly. But he would certainly interfere to get what he wanted." His hand brushed against my elbow just long enough to indicate it was more than accidental.

I turned towards him, my shoulders leaning against the window pane. "We don't really need to know the details. I mean, it could just be implied that he is coming back and angry. Perhaps he does not warn the Potters but instead betrays the group? What if their location is compromised and they need to move elsewhere?"

"Yes. That may be enough to get us outside these doors long enough to find escape."

"Or send warning. Perhaps escaping is the wrong plan. Won't they realize our trick then?"

"That is a possibility, however, at least we would be away from here."

I shrugged. "I guess. But then we will no longer know their plans which will probably change if we escape." My tongue played at the injured flesh on lip.

"There is little doubt.." He sighed and his gazed shifted to the distance behind me and out the frosted glass. Was he formulating a plan or considering whether he still desired to risk himself and potential freedom for the Potters?

I did not care either way at the moment, but I did not have much feeling about anything. I sighed. "But did we ever really have a chance…"

Severus Snape

Her voice echoed the emptiness I imagined she felt exponentially within. I watched as she sucked on her lower lip, likely finding some twisted comfort in teasing the wound she'd created; something to break the void even if that something was pain. Her grey eyes were dull and emptier than her voice.

I cursed myself silently as I swallowed down the urge to reach into her head. Why did I care so much about what lay behind those grey eyes? She held no information I needed, kept no secrets which I wanted, nor had anything to hide from me. Those were the reasons for which I usually implemented occlumency, not times like this when I simply yearned to know. So why my curiosity?

I thought back to my first meeting weeks ago at St Dymphna's and my subsequent early morning visits to her room and laughed.

Her gaze snapped to my face as she frowned. "What is so amusing?"

"I have decided I no longer find your presence unpleasant."

The smallest hint of a smile played at the corner of her mouth, as though she wished to smile but could not find the energy. "I never really found your presence unpleasant. Intimidating, yes. Annoying at times. Then confusing. But never really unpleasant." She slid down the wall to sit on the floor again. "In fact, I might find it preferable to most others currently. Possibly all others"

I snorted. "I might say the same for you." At the same time I said the words, I felt the truth in them. There was not one other living person for which I would have traded the young witch at this moment. I looked down at her as she looked to me,

"My visions all come in dreams. Have you seen others?"

"Yes." A half truth. I had heard one other.

"So how do I seem convincing?" She closed her eyes and rested her head back.

"Believe it to be so."

"That is not helpful."

I sighed. "Stop suddenly as though overtaken by something. Stare into the beyond and speak slowly, with annunciation, in a strong emotionless voice. I can cause the lights to flicker or the lamps to shake or something of the sort."

"Yes. That should help."

"Come Lavender, we must enact this plan soon if we have any hope of success." I reached my hand out to her.

"Yes." Grasping my hand, she stood and stepped close, looking up at me; so close I could hear her heart beating. Inhaling sharply, I could still smell the faintest hint of the lavender soap she used at St Dymphna's.

Her eyes begged, but I was at a loss for what. Realizing, I still held my breath, I exhaled as I glanced down to where our hands still linked together.

She squeezed gently, and I understood. I nodded as I reached out to touch her cheek. She stepped closer as her eyes closed. Twisting my fingers into her locks, I tucked her against me beneath my chin as I stared at the window behind her.

Her hands reached around my waist as she sighed. It was touch for which she begged, which she craved, and which I gave. I sighed in response.

I do not know how long we stood that way, but eventually she pulled away and turned back to the window. "Thank you," she whispered. "I'm ready now." She turned back to me. "Let's go."

Dr Cornwell

I sighed. Nearly two weeks had passed since the escape. Mr Weasley and his team had interviewed all of my current patients. He had found witnesses to Ms Brown and Mr Snape's escape; they'd apparently climbed out the fire escape and lured the guard away from the gate. Mr Weasley confirmed to me that they'd used magic to get through the locks. In spite of myself, I did not question this. How could I? It finally explained so much about the strange pair. No other possibilities connected all the unusual occurrences surrounding them, and this possibility explained everything perfectly even if difficult to comprehend.

Mr Weasley sat before me now. "We managed to track them into the Peak District. They stole a horse from one of the stables. We believe they rode across most of the District on horseback, but at some point stopped riding. We located the horse, but they are nowhere to be found. They more or less disappeared after a quick run toward the border." He frowned.

I no longer understand the meaning of impossible in this world. "Is that something they could have done? Disappeared like that?"

He shifted in his chair as his blue eyes narrowed. "Theoretically yes. But if they were capable of such things, they would not have been riding the horse to begin with I imagine."

I nodded, pretending to understand.

"The Brown's report no sign that Lavender returned home and Mr Snape's property appears undisturbed." He paused. "Doctor. Has there been anyone else that has expressed interest in the disappearance of these two besides the authorities and Ms Brown's parents?"

"Yes. Shortly after the press release regarding the escape, an old friend of Mr Snape's stopped in the inquire about the disappearance; Lucius Malfoy he said."

Mr Weasley raised an eyebrow. "Lucius Malfoy was here?"

"Yes." It seemed apparent that this information was relevant to the investigation.

"And what did he want?"

"Information of course. Who he was with? What time he left? Did he have a wand? One of your people?" I raised an eyebrow.

"If you mean with the Ministry of Magic, then no. If you mean magical, then yes. What did you tell him."

"Not much. But then again I did not know much at the time. He already seemed to know that Ms Brown was a patient here and guessed she was the woman with him. He also knew of the property of Mr Snape's in Manchester. He believed they might be headed to London, but did not elaborate on why or how he knew this. I have not heard from him since."

Mr Weasley stood. "Thank you, Doctor. This has been very helpful. I believe you have given me a significant lead." He bowed slightly. "I will be in touch soon with updates."

With that he left, leaving me to wonder what else he knew but hadn't said. "Good Luck." I called after him.