Snape's Saviour

Chapter 3 - The Arrival

***

Jane opened her eyes and looked around. Severus was still beside her, but she was no longer in a dingy warehouse. She was outside now, surrounded by trees, sitting on grass. She stiffened, somewhat disturbed by the dramatic change of scenery. This wasn't home, she didn't know where this actually was and she didn't know what had happened, but this certainly wasn't home.

Her mind raced but she tried to control the panic that threatened to overwhelm her. One minute she was recovering from Adam's violation, he would pay for that, she thought angrily, the next she was here, wherever here was.

Jane wondered what had happened. The last thing she could remember was Severus taking her hand. Quickly, the unreasonable thought that Severus really was a wizard leapt into her mind and took hold. She wanted to laugh it away, but she could think of no other explanation for the sudden change, unless, of course, she was dead or dreaming.

If anyone would know, Severus would and Jane decided she would ask him. She looked at his body beside her, his eyes were closed, and she could not detect any movement. Scared he might be dead she reached out cautiously and touched his shoulder. "Severus," she whispered, "Severus, are you okay?" There was no response.

She shook him gently and he groaned in protest.

Jane sighed with relief, glad, at least, that he wasn't dead. She didn't know what had happened, but it must have been his doing, and now she knew that he was still alive to explain she relaxed a little. She was worried though, he looked closer to death than he had in weeks. "Severus, I don't understand. Is this a dream? Did you do this?"

Snape opened his eyes slowly and relaxed. "Yes, I did this," his voice was tired, he was tired, Apparating had sapped his strength more than he had expected, and he felt almost as bad as he had weeks before when Jane had first saved him from the boys. "It's not a dream."

"Where are we?"

"Near the school I teach at, in the Forbidden Forest."

"Severus, why is it forbidden?"

Snape noticed her voice was small and frightened. "There are dangerous creatures here," he answered without thought.

"That's comforting to know." Jane looked around. "How did we get here?"

"Magic. It's called Apparating. It's how wizards get around."

Snape looked at Jane. She seemed to be on the verge of tears. Fear, hunger and her brutal violation were finally taking their toll on her control. "What do you plan on doing with me?" she whimpered.

Suddenly he realised that she thought he meant to hurt her. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"Then why did you bring me here?"

Snape sighed. "I wanted to help you. You helped me. I chose to return the favour."

"But I know nothing about the magical world. I will never fit in."

"It's the same world Jane, except here you won't be subjected to the types of things you have had to put up with. Here I can keep you safe." In the back of his mind Snape thought he heard a voice say not if the Death Eaters get her, but he wouldn't allow that to happen. She would be safe while he lived. Unfortunately that wouldn't be long if they didn't get out of the forest and back to the castle before nightfall. "Here there is food and warmth and shelter and you don't have to be afraid any more, but we have to get back to Hogwarts."

Jane looked at him, struggling to control her rising panic. At least in her world she knew where she stood. This world, this magical one, was foreign to her - she didn't even know where to start to defend herself. "How do you propose we do that? It's not like I can carry you, and you don't look like you can walk far."

Privately, Snape agreed with her. The walk wouldn't be pleasant, but they had to reach the safety of the castle before darkness fell. "I can walk, I just need a little help to stand."

Jane looked at him sceptically. "You're kidding, right?"

"I am not kidding. Help me up."

Jane shrugged. He looked ill, so ill that it worried her and now he wanted to stand. She was about to protest when she realised that if they were truly in HIS world then it wasn't her job to protect him any more - now he was in charge. "Whatever." Moving to his side she reached down and took his arm gently, pulling him slowly to his feet. It was the first time she had seen him stand. He was so tall!

Leaning heavily on her too frail shoulders, world spinning, Snape tried to take a step forward. He cursed himself for his weakness as he fell to his knees again, breathing heavily. Pain from his chest and legs sliced through him at the exertion. He had to concede that Jane had been right. Walking wouldn't be an option if he couldn't even take the first step.

Jane knelt beside him and helped him to lie back more comfortably. She felt his face, it was hot, but she noticed he was shivering. She put her arm around his shoulders to support him. "Are you ok?"

Snape's breath came in short, sharp gasps. He realised he had hurt himself again when a small cough brought blood to his lips. He wiped it away, angry at his weakness. "Yes!" he snapped.

Jane didn't pull away. It surprised him - that was her normal reaction when he lost his temper with her, which had been uncommon. This time though, she stayed beside him, still supporting him, concern evident in her eyes.

"I'm sorry. We really need to get out of here before night fall." he apologised.

Jane nodded. The Forbidden Forest, dangerous creatures and nightfall weren't a combination she really wanted to have to deal with. In fact, to this point, magic, if that is what all this truly was, held little promise of an improvement over the life she had unwittingly left behind.

"Can't we just go back?"

"No. I won't leave you there, I won't let those boys treat you like that ever again, and I belong here."

"But you don't understand. What happened was my choice. I chose to allow it to happen. I wanted it," she finished trying to sound convincing.

"No, you chose to allow it to happen to protect me. What happened isn't your fault, it's theirs. Now, help me up again, we have to do this."

Snape struggled to his feet again, unused to the feeling of vulnerability and lack of control he was experiencing. He took a step and nearly fell, and he knew they wouldn't make it, not together. She would, alone, without him hindering her progress, but when she reached the castle, what then? She would never be permitted to enter without him, even with him, Dumbledore would be unlikely to be pleased at her presence. No, they had to continue together or not at all.

He took another step forward, forcing himself onward against the pain shooting through his body. He realised his right leg had been broken. It was healing, but still broken. He hadn't anticipated that. Dragging his mind back to the present, he realised she was saying something to him and he forced himself to focus on her words, rather than the pain that was assaulting him.

"Can't you cast a spell or, or what did you call it? Apparate?"

"That's right, Apparate." He shook his head. "No, there are special spells to protect the castle, they are called wards. They stop people from Apparating inside."

Jane nodded understanding. "To protect against Voldemort?"

Snape stiffened at the mention of the Dark Lord, and hissed as pain shot through him again. "Yes." He decided she should know at least a little about him if she was to live here. "He would dearly love to get his hands of some of the students and staff."

"Oh." Jane looked up, noticing his dark eyes were somewhat glazed. "Are you all right?"

"Not really." He couldn't lie. "I am beginning to think that this was a mistake."

"Only beginning to?"

Snape took another step forward and stumbled, falling again to the ground. This time Jane fell too, unable to support him. They ended up sprawled in a heap on the ground. Snape was somewhat surprised that Jane wasn't frantic by this stage, even with her remarkable self control he would have expected the current events to have shaken her somewhat. He, in fact, was feeling frantic himself at this stage.

They lay there together, Snape with his eyes closed, drifting almost peacefully towards unconsciousness. Without warning he was startled back to reality by Jane's barely stifled exclamation. Opening his eyes, and drawing his wand, he looked at her, wondering what had shaken her so, wondering, too, if he would be able to fight of whatever forest dweller had startled the child.

"S...S...Severus," she stammered, suddenly child like, "what, what's that?"

Snape looked in the direction she was pointing and sighed with relief. Firenze.

***

"Hello Professor Snape. What brings you to the forest, and with a Muggle child none the less?" The Centaur moved forward. Snape felt Jane retreat.

"Hello Firenze, we are having a bit of trouble I am afraid."

"So I can see." The half man, half horse moved closer again, noting the Potions Master's injured state. Snape turned and saw that Jane had retreated even further away. Tears were leaking from her eyes. The child was petrified.

Noting Jane's fear, the Centaur stopped moving. "The Headmaster sent word that we were to keep an eye out for you. I see you are injured, can I help?"

Snape sighed gratefully. Centaurs were notoriously difficult to deal with. Like Jane, you couldn't make one do anything it didn't want to do, and they generally disliked human contact. "Yes, thank you. We need to get back to the castle. The child is Jane."

The Centaur nodded and looked beyond Snape to the little girl, crouched in a ball now, head bowed, crying. Firenze could smell the fear. "Child," his deep voice rumbled gently, "stop crying. I will not cause you any harm."

As if being directly addressed by the Centaur was harm enough, Jane's crying grew louder. The Centaur looked at Snape, bewildered.

"She's been mistreated by her own kind," he said quietly by way of an explanation.

The Centaur nodded and moved slowly forward, not wishing to startle the frightened child. "Child, I will not hurt you." He continued to move towards her slowly, stoping within arms reach. "Child," he rumbled gently, "fear not." He reached out and touched her and was instantly assaulted by every terrifying memory she had. "Jane, I need your assistance with Professor Snape. Will you help me?"

Appealing to the part of Jane that had cared for Snape for over a month seemed to work. Looking up at his gently smiling face she nodded. Her eyes were still tear filled, but they no longer threatened to leak out. Firenze reached down to help her up and smiled as she cautiously took his hand.

"I'm sorry," Jane apologised. "It was childish to cry."

"You are a child." Still holding her hand, he looked down at her, smiling in encouragement. "I can take you and Professor Snape to the edge of the forest, but you must help him onto my back."

Jane nodded in agreement.

Moving back to Severus, Jane knelt down. "Are you sure you can do this?" She looked into his eyes and realised how very tired he was. If he couldn't, (comma) she knew they wouldn't make it back to his home before nightfall. She stroked the hair from his face, worried. Foolishness had undone all her hard work.

"I'll be fine when we get back to Hogwarts."

With Jane's assistance once again, Snape struggled to his feet and then onto the Centaur's back. "Now you child," the deep voice invited.

Jane clambered up and sat behind Snape, not sure what to expect. "Hold on," he whispered as he clasped his hands around Firenze's torso. He felt Jane's small hands grip his robes desperately and noted they were still shaking. "We are ready, thank you Firenze."

"Then we shall be on our way." Smoothly the Centaur's body started to move, carrying man and child across the forest. After a few minutes Snape felt Jane's grip relax slightly. The Centaur also noticed that the child relaxed. Smoothly he increased his pace to a gallop as he sensed the child's increasing ease.

The Centaur drew to a halt at the edge of the forest as he had said. He could go no further. Jane slid down from his back, landing gently on the grass.

Snape slid off next, but landed far less gently, his damaged leg still unable to support him properly. Jane saw Hogwarts in the distance and looked from it to the Potions Master. He would never make it across the ground between the forest and the castle.

"I am sorry, but that is as far as I can take you," the Centaur apologised.

Snape nodded, aware of the Centaur's restrictions. "You have been a great help, Firenze, thank you."

The Centaur bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement. It turned to Jane. "Goodbye child." His sapphire blue eyes smiled in amusement at her uncertainty.

Without warning, mind made up, Jane moved quickly to the Centaur and Snape watched incredulously as she threw her arms around Firenze. "Thank you for the ride. I am sorry I was scared of you."

Firenze let out a deep chuckle. "You are forgiven Jane. Centaurs bear humans no true ill, the same cannot be said for some of the other creatures that live in the forest. You were right to be afraid, some of the forest dwellers are far less affable, and you would be well advised to stay safely within the castle and its grounds, particularly one such as yourself."

Jane looked at him. "Such as myself?"

"A non-magical human, a Muggle. Magic may be an ineffective defence against some of the creatures that dwell here, but it is certainly better than no defence at all. Take care little one."

Jane hugged him again then let go, turning to watch as he disappeared back into the depths of the forest.

***

How they managed to make it the rest of the way back to the castle, Jane never knew. While being tired and hungry wasn't unusual for her, everything else had taken its toll on her endurance, and she was barely capable of walking. Snape was far worse, but she noticed that as they approached the rather imposing castle, he seemed to drag a reserve of energy from somewhere. Perhaps he was using magic, she thought.

She trusted him, really she did, not that she had much choice, but when they came to the entrance, Jane grew apprehensive. Tired and uncertain, she stopped and leaned against the cold stones of the entrance, brushing the snow from her clothes.

Feeling at home amongst the familiar surroundings of the place he had called home for most of his life, Snape didn't notice the girl's hesitation. Moving quickly, attempting to avoid the possibility of running into any of the staff, or worse still, some student having the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Snape was almost at the entrance to the school buildings before he realised Jane was no longer beside him. Trying to control his exasperation, he stopped and looked around. The girl was nowhere to be seen. "Jane?" he hissed, "where are you?"

There was no answer. Sighing, he turned and retraced his steps.

He was relieved to find her leaning against the entrance of the outer quadrangle. At least she hadn't run away. Snape almost snapped at the girl. It would have been easy for him to resort to his normal behaviour and it took all his effort to bite his tongue. One look at her spoke to the torment she was fighting. "Jane, what's wrong?" he asked as gently as he could manage.

Jane looked up at him with tear filled eyes, unable to speak.

"Are you scared?"

She nodded slightly.

"You know I won't let you be hurt, don't you?"

She nodded again.

"So what are you scared of?"

"Embarrassing you. Making you angry. Causing trouble."

So much fear, Snape thought, for so little reason. It wouldn't be easy initiating her into the Hogwarts universe, but it wasn't something she had to worry about. If it didn't go well, only one person would be held responsible, and that would be Severus Snape, Potions Master, and really that, at that particular moment, was the least burdensome of his responsibilities.

Body aching and chest still heaving from expended effort, Snape reached out towards the distraught girl. "Please come in. It is too cold out here. I don't think I will be able to stand much longer."

He watched the girl, who had been so unassailable in her own world, struggle to stop the tears that were streaming down her face. Looking now at the face, streaked with tears and dirt, Snape realised, for the first time just how young the girl really was, and how little she knew about life away from the squalid world she had inhabited for so long. The next few weeks would be very interesting, very interesting indeed.

Taking his hand, Jane wiped her eyes, smiled, and nodded. "Alright."

***

Following Snape through the cold stone halls, Jane felt more at home. Everything seemed slightly worn, slightly used, similar to her warehouse home. Granted, the décor was somewhat unusual, but it wasn't as intimidating has she had expected. In fact, she decided the castle was kind of warm and inviting.

They seemed to move continually downward and Jane noticed subtle changes in Snape's bearing. While it was obvious he was still injured and hurting badly, she saw that he now carried himself in a more dignified and imposing manner. She wondered if all the teachers were like that. So far she hadn't seen anyone else to judge him against, but he was certainly different here to what he had been. He no longer allowed his weakness to show, she marvelled at his ability to hide the pain she knew he must be experiencing. He must have been using magic, she decided.

Almost running to keep up with the tall man, Jane barely escaped colliding with him when he stopped in front of a heavy wooden door. He whispered something she couldn't quite catch and flicked his wand around, and without him even touching it, the door opened and Snape stepped inside, holding it open for her.

He had barely spoken since they had entered the buildings. Now he turned to her, "We will talk, but first I must take care of a few things, and you must wash." He pointed to a door. "The bathroom is through there. Go and clean up."

Jane nodded in acknowledgement and moved to the door waiting. When it didn't open, (comma) she put her hand out and opened it. Looking back she watched briefly as Snape searched through some bottles on a shelf.

Snape waited until he heard water flowing. Sighing and wincing at the continued effort to remain active, he picked up the small round bottle filled with a golden liquid. Phoenix Tears Potion. It was his own invention and he was quite proud of it.

Moving across the room, he picked up a goblet and sat down at his desk. Hands shaking, almost at the limit of his endurance, even with the endurance spell he had cast, he poured the potion from the bottle and topped the goblet up with water Phoenix Tears was remarkably effective, but far too volatile to drink undiluted.

Sipping from the goblet, he smiled as the healing properties of the potion took effect. A sense of warmth and relief flooded over him. Yes, he thought to himself, this was far better than being molly coddled by Madam Pomfrey in the hospital wing. That was an experience he never wished to have the pleasure of repeating if it could be avoided.