Snape's Saviour

Chapter 4 - Welcome Home

***

"Severus, you have returned!" Dumbledore was glad to see the Potions Master. He had been absent for far too long and the Headmaster had been quietly worried about the young man. Extended absences were hard for him to bear.

Snape didn't look up. "So it would seem Headmaster," he responded wearily.

The Headmaster noticed the Potions Master was leaning heavily against his desk. "Are you alright Severus?" he asked, concerned. Severus looked tired and had obviously been badly injured during his most recent foray into the Death Eaters world. "You look dreadful."

The Potions Master grimaced. "Thank you so much for pointing that out Albus."

Dumbledore moved forward and touched the younger man's shoulder, taking the opportunity to study Snape more closely. "Are you alright?" Dumbledore repeated his previous question.

"I will be now," Snape answered finally. "It was somewhat of an ordeal," he added. "I will explain later, but first I have to tell you something I expect you will be unhappy about." He wasn't looking forward to this bit.

"What is it Severus?" the older man asked gently, noticing the younger wizard's discomfort and hesitation, and wondering what was causing him such agitation.

The Potions Master looked away guiltily. "I bought someone with me."

The Headmaster looked up worried. "Not a Death Eater?"

"Of course not Headmaster," Snape answered, drained. He looked at Dumbledore, hoping to gauge his reaction and wondering why he imagined a Death Eater would be his guest. "A Muggle."

"A Muggle?" Dumbledore looked up surprised.

"A Muggle child." Snape nodded.

"Gods Severus, what were you thinking?" Dumbledore looked at the drained man before him. "Why?"

"It is complicated, but the simple answer is that she helped me and I... I couldn't leave her." Dumbledore watched as his exhausted Potions Master almost broke down. "It's complicated and I don't have the energy to explain at the moment," he finished.

"Where is she?"

"In the bathroom, washing."

"Who is she? What is her name?"

"I am Galatea, my last name isn't important. Besides," she shrugged, "I don't remember it." Using her innate stealth to advantage, Jane had returned to the room where the two men had been talking about her without either man noticing.

Both men turned to look at the young girl who had interrupted them. She addressed Snape who was looking at her with a look of astonishment. "I told you Jane wasn't my real name," she explained. "I could hardly have a pathetic name like Galatea when I was living on the streets. Do you realise how vulnerable that would make me?"

Snape nodded. He had to agree. Being such a small girl in her situation was bad enough, but to have some obscure literary gem, such as Galatea, for a name would only make her life that much harder. He wondered just how her parents had chosen such a name for a child born in the twentieth century. Heavens, not even wizarding families would choose such a name.

Severus had been a hard enough name to live down. It suited him well though, and he wondered if the name had shaped his personality or whether his disposition as an adult had been seen prior to his birth and his parents had named him accordingly. It didn't matter, at least not any more. He had suffered badly with it as a child, and he could imagine the suffering she would have been subjected to, but those days were well gone. Now he suffered from a much greater, but self-inflicted torment.

Jane looked at Snape. Snape looked at the Headmaster. He seemed shocked. Snape had never seen the Headmaster shocked, not even when he had admitted to being a Death Eater in his seventh year. Of course he had already realised his young charge was vulnerable to an approach by the Dark Lord, but try as he might, he had been unable to prevent the young man from taking the Dark Mark. He had just looked sad at that particular admission, and disappointed. Surprise, this was something new.

Jane watched both men resolutely and they both watched her. She was clean now, but still dressed in the ragged clothes she had been wearing upon arrival, of course she had no others. She had nothing. She looked from Snape, waiting for Dumbledore's decision, to the older man, unable to guess his response. She decided he looked angry and she knew then what the response would be. Snape would be in trouble for bringing her with him and she didn't wish to be responsible for causing him more difficulties than he already faced.

Turning back to Snape she looked at him apologetically. "I am sorry for getting you into trouble. Please just send me back," she begged. Both men looked at her, surprised. Snape was surprised at her readiness to return to such a squalid life; Dumbledore was surprised by her self-reliance in such a strange situation.

Jane watched both men defiantly. Suddenly, her knees buckled and both men watched even more surprised, as she collapsed to the floor without warning. The Headmaster and Potions Master both rushed quickly to the fallen girl, decision postponed for the time being. For the first time in many years concern and fear for another gripped Snape's heart.

***

"So, is it true Albus?" McGonagall asked curiously.

Dumbledore closed the door to the hospital wing and took the witch's arm, directing her back towards his office. "That Severus has returned?" he responded evasively.

"That he brought a child back with him," McGonagall corrected.

Dumbledore sighed and nodded. "Yes, Minerva, I am afraid it is true. Severus has brought us a child, a Muggle child," he added.

"A Muggle child! Albus!" The Scottish witch was astounded at the news.

"I know Minerva, but what can we do? Right at the moment the child is too ill to be returned. Besides, Severus seems quite attached to her," the headmaster explained quietly.

"But Albus, a Muggle? Does he know?"

"I believe he is aware of that fact. I can't imagine that it would have escaped his notice." Dumbledore shook his head and sighed again. "I don't know the full story at the moment, Minerva. Severus has said very little so far and is saying even less now that the child is ill. I don't imagine he will tell us the whole story until she is out of danger so I figured I would leave him be until he decided he was able to speak to us."

"Out of danger? Is she that ill?"

"Ton tongue toffee." The Gargoyle moved aside and admitted its master and his guest.

"As I said, I don't understand the situation fully myself, but according to Poppy, the child is suffering from the effects of malnutrition and shock. She also informed me that it would appear the child has been recently violated."

McGonagall looked at Dumbledore sharply, a sick feeling in her stomach. "You don't mean -"

"No Minerva, I don't believe Severus is responsible."

The witch sat down, somewhat relieved. "So Albus, what are your intentions? We can hardly have a Muggle running loose around the school grounds, it would be far too dangerous for both the child and for the school community."

"I agree, but at the moment I don't see that as being a problem. It doesn't appear as though the girl will be running anywhere in the immediate future."

"So what is the child's name?" McGonagall asked curiously.

"Now that is an excellent question Minerva. She introduced herself as Galatea. Severus told me he knew her as Jane."

McGonagall was a little suspicious at that, but ignored the uncomfortable feeling that was rising within her. "Galatea," she said thoughtfully. "If I remember correctly, I believe that was the name of a sea-nymph."

"Beloved by Acis. Yes."

"Strange name for a Muggle child."

"Strange child from what I have observed, and from what limited information Severus has provided. He seems quite captivated by her however."

McGonagall was suspicious again. Snape rarely fell victim to anyone's charms, and for him to be so vulnerable to a child, let alone a female Muggle child, seemed quite extraordinary.

"Do I indeed Headmaster?" Severus asked quietly, startling the two older staff members, annoyed that his behaviour was the subject of such conjecture, but also somewhat amused that he had been able to sneak up on the pair while they were gossiping about him like students.

Dumbledore and McGonagall both noted how exhausted he seemed. It showed that the Potions Master's stamina was beginning to wane as a result of the ongoing nature of his role as a spy. "Ah, Severus. I am glad you have joined us." Looking at the weary young wizard before him he smiled and pointed towards a chair. "Take a seat Severus, before you fall down."

Snape sat, sighing wearily at the relief. "I had no choice in the matter. Poppy informed me, in no uncertain terms, that my presence was no longer required. I chose not to argue."

Dumbledore chuckled at that. The school's nurse was notoriously protective of her charges. "I am surprised she didn't force you into a bed as well. You look like you could do with some medical attention yourself."

"Thank you Headmaster, that won't be necessary." Snape's voice dripped with repugnance. "I have taken matters into my own hands."

"Phoenix Tears potion?" Dumbledore looked at his friend, aware of how unhappy the nurse would be at the Potion Master's use of that particular potion.

Snape nodded, and was startled when Fawkes arrived, without warning, on his shoulder. The bird brought relief from some of his weariness but he had to admit that he was, in fact, still weak and more pained by his injuries than he would have wished. He was certainly suffering more than he was willing to admit to anyone but himself, but he would not subject himself to Pomfrey's attentions unless absolutely necessary. "I expect you are both waiting for an explanation."

***

Snape hung his head much like he had as a student, dark hair falling over his face. He did this as much to hide his shame as to hide his weariness. He always felt like a child when questioned by Dumbledore and McGonagall. Perhaps it was because he had faced disciplinary action so often as a student. That it hadn't been his fault in most cases, but rather James bloody Potter's, or his friends', hadn't mattered to them at the time, but he knew that both now felt remorse for the unjust treatment they had given the young Slytherin as a student.

It didn't matter though to Snape, not any more. As a Death Eater, most of the activities he had taken part in were far worse than anything he had been punished for unfairly during his time as a student. He knew he would never find redemption, after all, how could anyone forgive him when he couldn't forgive himself? He knew he would never be able to forgive himself, regardless of his current activities as a spy. He knew, with the same certainty though, that both Dumbledore and McGonagall had forgiven him long ago. It didn't help ease his tormented conscience.

"Would you like to tell us what happened Severus?" the witch asked kindly.

"Like?" He raised his eyebrows quizzically. "I think not, but you do deserve an explanation." Snape looked at them watching him like hawks, both concerned and interested. "Oh, do sit down you two. You're making me feel like a recalcitrant school boy again." He watched as they smiled at one another and took their seats. They weren't going to like what he was about to say. "Voldemort knows I am a spy."

McGonagall blanched, colour draining from her face as quickly as it would have had he told them he had to kill Harry Potter as part of his Death Eater duties. "Oh, Severus, are you sure?"

"Yes, I am quite sure."

Dumbledore looked at him questioningly. "How can you be so certain?"

Dumbledore's disbelief irritated Snape, exhausted as he was. In his current state he had little energy remaining to maintain his composure and his response to the Headmasters question was sharper than he intended. "Because he damn well nearly killed me, that's how. And Lucius said something about lost friends that I didn't understand until I was lying in a pool of my own blood, so close to death that the distinction hardly mattered."

"Severus..." McGonagall touched his arm gently, hoping to dispel the young man's anger. It worked, but the result was a barely stifled sob from the dispirited Potions Master.

"He knows... Gods, I don't know how I escaped. I don't remember Apparating, but one minute I was close to death being beaten by Death Eaters, the next by children." He registered Dumbledore's surprise. "Oh yes Headmaster, not only did they liberally apply Cruciatus, they also punished me physically for my betrayal.

"As I said, I am not aware of Apparating, but one minute I was there, the next I was not, although escaping wasn't much of an improvement because I was still being beaten. Originally I thought it was some sick kind of mind game. Unfortunately I was mistaken."

"I heard a girl scream and without warning, the beatings stopped, and my attackers fled. Jane, Galatea," he corrected himself, "saved my life, then sacrificed everything to keep me alive, including her own health."

"Oh, Severus..." McGonagall was fighting against her overwhelming sadness, and loosing. "I am terribly sorry."

"As am I," Dumbledore added.

"You don't owe me an apology. Any punishment I receive is less than I deserve for what I have done. On the other hand, the child deserves our gratitude. I will admit that I had no intention of bringing her here, no matter how much she had done for me, at least not until this morning." The two listeners both noticed that Snape's voice caught in his throat.

"This morning, one of the boys who had beaten me decided to visit. Jane, Galatea," he corrected again, he would never get used to her sudden name change, "was away, searching for my wand so I could escape her horrid little world. The boy's intentions were anything other than honourable. Galatea returned in time to save me from the intended act and allowed the boy to have his way with her instead. How could I desert her after that?" Snape looked at his two colleagues, desperately hoping they would confirm that they, too, would have done the same.

Dumbledore looked sad. He had no answer for the child before him, or the child in the hospital wing. He knew the price of keeping her at Hogwarts was likely to be great, but he knew too, the terrible cost of her sacrifice. He also had to acknowledge that she had managed to do something he had never managed, no matter how much he had wished to. She had become a beacon in the darkness of Severus' soul, someone he could cling to, safe in the knowledge that she wanted nothing from him. He knew he would have done the same, and he knew he would allow her to stay, regardless of the implications for the security of the school.

Snape watched Dumbledore with a look of desperation. He had never begged for anything in his life, not even forgiveness, but he would beg for this, he would beg for her. It was the least he could do, considering the selfless sacrifices she had made to care for and protect him.

"Severus, I know you understand the implications of your request."

Snape nodded then straightened defiantly, preparing to fight the man who had given him his freedom, for the child that had saved his life. "I won't send her back, not alone, not to that. If you wish to send her away, you had better find yourself another Potions Master because I will be going with her."

"Severus, you can't mean that!" McGonagall gasped, shocked.

"I can assure you Minerva that I do." He studied Dumbledore, casting the older wizard a cold, steely, defiant stare. "Well?"

Dumbledore would have been amused at the younger wizard's behaviour had the situation not been so serious. In the end, he did the only thing he could; he relieved the man's anxiety. "Relax Severus," he soothed, "the girl may stay, but there will be certain restrictions."

"Of course Headmaster." Snape visibly relaxed. "Now, I really have enjoyed this little get together, but I would like to return to my chambers to bathe and get some rest if you don't mind."

"Of course Severus."

Fight over, energy reserves well and truly spent, Snape rose slowly and moved to the door, his normal rigid but graceful posture gone, replaced by the slumped shoulders and dragged feet of utter exhaustion. Dumbledore and McGonagall both noted his weariness with concern, wondering if they were asking too much of the young wizard.

"Welcome home Severus. We are glad you have returned to us... regardless of the cost."

Hand on the door, about to leave, Snape didn't turn back, he merely paused and nodded in acknowledgment of Dumbledore's words, before pushing the door open and leaving the Headmaster's office. Dumbledore and McGonagall looked at one another shocked and worried.