Severus Snape
"Wait. We need to allow them time to think we are still trapped." I pulled her back into the closet. As she glanced at me, I noted the flush in her cheeks as she bit her lower lip. For the briefest of moments, my eyes locked onto her lips as I avoided her gaze and resisted the urge to delve into her thoughts.
I moved my hand to touch her, but stopped as my fists clenched at my sides. "A moment longer, then we quietly exit."
She nodded, as she swallowed loudly. "What if we fail?" She looked away.
With a sigh, I nodded. "All we can do is try."
"I really wish I could read your mind." She looked down at her hands.
I placed a hand on her shoulder. "No," I snorted. "I do not even want to be in this head right now."
She looked up. "We really are mental cases."
"Perhaps." I dropped my hand and opened the closet door, Draco's wand in hand.
Lavender kept close, her hand resting against my back. As we stepped out of the closet, Mr Borgin looked up from behind the counter. Before he drew his wand, I aimed a stupefy curse at him, and he dropped to the floor.
After a quick glance around to reveal no others waiting to attack us, I ran over to the wizard and magically bound his arms and legs. He groaned in discomfort as I tightened the magical ropes. I reached for his wand only to find it crushed from his collapse. I threw the useless shards across the room as I looked over at Ms Brown. "There will be others."
She only looked away in response.
I stood. "Let's go." We moved across the shop to the front window. The street outside was empty so we continued out the front door and around the corner to Diagon Alley.
Glancing around the corner, I saw our targets milling about the street near Ollivanders. Despite the early hour, a few other witches and wizards appeared to be awaiting the grand opening festivities to start in the next hour and many others moved about the street starting their business for the day. "We are not too late."
Lavender squeezed my shoulder as she kept herself slightly behind me. She peered around the edge of the shop on the corner. "Thank Merlin. I hope Parvati got our message."
"It was a good spell. She got it."
"Well then, I hope she believed it." She sighed. "Things haven't been the greatest between us for a while."
"You should wait here for now. I will get closer."
"I'm not letting you do this alone. I got us into this."
"You do not have a wand."
"Then get me one as soon as possible."
I shook my head. "Typical Gryffindor. Being brave does not mean being reckless."
"And being cunning does not mean doing it alone."
I gritted my teeth as I turned to her. "Lavender, I will not be able to forgive myself if anything happens to you. Do you understand?" I regretted saying the words aloud as soon as I heard them in my own ears, but they were accurate.
Her eyes widened, but she remained silent, her head nodding slowly. As I started to turn away, she wrapped her arms around my shoulders and pressed herself close to me in a tight hug which was not altogether unpleasant.
With a sigh, I gently returned the gesture.
"Find me a wand. I cannot stand here and watch you risk everything." She released her embrace and stepped back. "Be careful."
"Yes." I forced my attention back to the street. As I stepped onto Diagon Alley, I sensed a change in the energy around me. At once, Harry and Ginny Potter stepped onto the street from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes just a few doors down from the wand shop, and all of Lucius's followers came to attention. As they raised their wands and the first curse was cast several Aurors apparated into the scene, the crackle of the energy echoed all around. Harry and Ginny responded with counter curses and managed to dodge the oncoming spells unharmed.
With a glance back toward Lavender, I urged myself toward the fray. I caught up to Nott first, sending him to the ground with a loud grunt as I approached Lucius.
When he saw me approach, he narrowed his eyes. "Stay out of my way, Severus." He launched a curse toward me as I heard several Aurors shout for us to drop our wands.
As I deflected the oncoming curse, Lucius' eyes widened at the sight of my wand. Was he near enough to note its familiarity?
"It's over, Lucius. Can't you see that?"
"It is not that simple." Lucius sneered as he raised his wand.
I prepared for his attack as I noted the battle between Aurors and want-to-be Death Eaters sparked around us. Bystanders scurried away and Ginny and Harry stood together, ready for a fight but eyes wide with recognition and confusion as they watched Lucius and I prepare to duel.
"Are you challenging me, Lucius? I have always been the better dueler. Even after eight years without a wand, I am sure I have the advantage. Lavender disarmed you with a stick, after all." I chuckled at the memory.
He hurled another curse in response which moved past as I stepped aside. "What are you waiting on? I thought you had bigger plans for today."
With an angry roar, he attempted unsuccessfully to disarm me and then to stupefy me. Had he forgotten his Occlumens? He was practically screaming his intentions at me in his head. I noted Lavender tensely observing in the corner of my view. "It seems I will have a wand for you any moment, my dear."
Lavender Brown
From my position behind the wall of the nearby shop, I saw the hex from one of the Aurors fly toward Severus as he dodged one from Lucius. At the last moment he turned to block it and the light dissipated. But as I exhaled a sigh of relief, Severus remained still. Grasping his chest, he fell forward.
I rushed to him, my heart bearing in my throat. "Severus!" I turned him over.
"Take it!" He shoved the wand into my hand, grimacing with the movement.
I nodded, crouching over him, drawing the wand as curses flew over my head.
"Get out of here, Lavender."
"No." I deflected an oncoming curse.
"Miss Brown!"
"Shut it. This will end soon. Stop distracting me." I hurled disarming charms at Zabini and Bulstrode, leaving them staring around confused, before leg-binding Flint and Goyle. From my position behind them, they were defenseless against the spells as they had no idea what was coming.
I stood as Lucius approached. "Careful. I've got a wand now." I sneered.
He sent a disarming spell toward me which I managed to block, but his follow-up hex knocked the wind from my chest.
I growled as I flung a stinging hex in his direction which caught him in the arm.
He flinched but then smiled. "Nice try, bitch. Now be a good mutt and stand down."
As Lucius raised his wand to curse her again, I concentrated on the idea of the wand flying out of his hand and the sound of the wood and metal falling to the cobblestones behind him before wordlessly casting the disarming spell.
To both of our surprise, the wand flew from his hand, our eyes following its flight and fall.
"I'm sorry. Was that not what you had in mind?" I laughed as Lucius spat in anger.
Seconds later, the Aurors overtook the remaining attackers binding them. As I was about to thank them for the assistance, however, I felt the tremor of magical bindings around my own wrists and the wand fell from my grasp. "What the hell?"
Severus groaned in discomfort as the Aurors pulled him to his feet, and we were dragged to join the rest of Lucius's gang.
"Wait. There's been a mistake. Please." I turned to the nearest Auror as Lucius laughed beside me.
"Be careful whom you trust, Seer," he said against my ear.
I cringed and pulled away.
"You all are under arrest for threatening the life of Harry and Ginevra Potter. A trial will be forthcoming and you can state your case at that time." The Auror responded.
"Lavender?" I heard my former best friend's voice before I saw her running toward me.
"Parvati? Thank Merlin. Help me."
She glanced over at the Auror as he shook his head. "I can't now. But I will, I promise."
"But do they not know about our Patronus?"
"Our?" She glanced around, eyes narrowed.
"Yes. You know I never mastered that spell, much less the ability to communicate with it." I sighed.
"Who then?"
I felt my face flush warm.
"Lavender." She grasped my hands. "This is important. Quit being coy."
I leaned in closer, as the Auror gave me a stern glance. "Severus Snape."
Parvati's eyes widened as she scanned the group of us cuffs. "Professor Snape? I thought you died in the Final Battle."
Severus did not respond. I turned to him and my glance was met with a glassy stare. "Damnit. Can we get a healer or something?" I reached my bound hands to his shoulder. "Severus?"
His jaw tightened as his eyes briefly focused in my direction before he collapsed.
"Can't somebody do something?" I followed him to the ground searching his body for some sort of wound or injury I could intervene upon. I leaned in to him. "Severus. Where are you hurt?"
He responded only with ragged breaths.
I spat more curses under my breath. As he had done to me days before as I laid upon the floor in the basement, I ran my fingers over his form searching for some clue of injury. My assessment was limited by both of our bindings, and I found nothing of significance; not that I had the healing skills to aid him as he had done for me. "Please, Severus. You promised to help me. You can't die on me now."
"Honestly, can we get him some help please?" I begged as I found the wand I had dropped earlier laying beside him.
Finally, someone kneeled down beside me and motioned to the others. "Lavender?"
I turned to the Auror. "Ron!" I wrapped my bound arms around him and squeezed as I watched two witches wearing the designation of medics approach. "I forgot you had become an Auror."
He laughed nervously as I pulled back. "Yes, well. That's not entirely your fault. I haven't been much of a friend recently. But I've been looking for you, you know?" He said as he released my bindings. "And Professor Snape."
"What do you mean?" I asked as I eyed the two mediwitches assessing Severus.
The professor groaned as they moved him for transport.
"Be careful!" I said.
"I was assigned to your case after your escape became public. We've been searching for you for nearly two weeks. Where the hell have you been? And how the bloody hell did you end up with him?" He motioned to Snape.
"It is a long story." My eyes narrowed. "But you better take care of him or there will be hell to pay."
He nodded as the witches disappeared with their patient.
I glanced around, suddenly remembering why we were even here in the first place. "Harry and Ginny? Are they -"
"They are fine. We've insisted they move inside."
I nodded. "Thank you again."
"No. Thank you. Your warning to Parvati is why we are here. Although I'm sure Harry and Ginny could have managed with your help, I would hate to think of what could have happened." He sighed. "You know?"
He pulled me close in a tight hug. "Let's get you out of here. You look like shit."
"Thanks."
Dr Cornwell
Mr Weasley was already seated in my office, but he stood when I entered, offering his hand. "I see you have been doing your own research." He pointed to computer screen which displayed the the most recent available Daily Prophet; Muggle Edition with the headline, "Severus Snape Lives!"
I nodded. "Yes. It has been several days without updates."
"My apologizes, Doctor. If you have read the article, you know there has been some drama in the magical world of late. Drama of which your escapees have been directly part."
I nodded. "Sit. Please." I took a seat behind the desk.
He sat. "They are both safe and mostly unharmed. They have been taken to St Mungo's for recovery."
"St Mungo's? I have heard that name before but cannot recall why."
"It is our most prestigious hospital. Lavender has spent significant time there since her attack. I believe she likely was there before coming here."
"Yes. That's where I read it. Ms Brown's file." I flipped open the folder on my desk.
Mr Weasley leaned forward.
"It's all true, isn't it? Dark Lords and werewolves and magic schools? Potions classes and Astronomy towers?"
He smiled.
I stood as my hand went to my forehead. "Then for the past eight years I have been subjected Mr Snape to what could be considered torture." I shivered as I considered I nearly tried electroconvulsive therapies on him in the early days and had been planning it for Ms Brown. "I am a terrible doctor!"
He stood and approached me, putting a hand on my shoulder. "Now, now, Doctor. Your ignorance has been intentional. Mr and Mrs Brown knew of it when they brought Lavender here, and yet still entrusted her to your care."
"I lot of good that did! How many others have I treated as psychotic that have in fact been telling me the truth all along? I don't know if I can trust my own judgement ever again."
"Please, Gina. I've met all of your patients, remember?" He paused as he eyes narrowed. "They are all Muggle. Except one..."
I froze as my mind ran the list of my patients. "Wait. Who?"
"The big guy. What is his name."
"Luther? He's magical?" I shook my head. He had never once mentioned anything remotely bordering on magical powers, witches, wizards, or the like.
"No. He is a squib."
I raised an eyebrow. "Squid?"
"Squib. Meaning he is from a magic family but with no powers of his own. An unfortunate occurrence that happens occasionally. Just as Muggles may produce magical children. But I've said too much, Dr Cornwell."
"No. Thank you. You have no idea what peace of mind you give." I smiled. "Thank you for everything. I am relieved to know Mr Snape and Lavender are well. I imagine they will not be returning here now."
"That will be up to them, but it is unlikely."
I nodded. "Yes. At least send them my hopes for a quick recovery and my sincerest apologies for not believing them."
"I will indeed, Doctor." I stepped away toward the door. "I have the ability to charm away your new insight, should you wish. Normally, it would be a requirement, but I feel we can trust you now." He cocked his head and raised an eyebrow.
"You can trust me, Mr Weasley. I promise to keep my newfound awareness to myself."
He nodded. "Thank you, Doctor." With a slight bow, he left my office.
"Not that anyone would believe me anyway."
