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Lost and Found	By : TheLibrarian Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 3257 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Disclaimer:
Harry Potter and all his friends (and enemies) are the brain-child of J.K.
Rowling. I�m just borrowing them. Exclusive ownership belongs to JKR, Arthur A.
Levine Books and Scholastic Inc. Jane Sinclair and all additional characters belong
to me. You belong to yourself.

A/N: This took me longer than expected. I didn�t get
a chance to write for the last two days, because I had a friend visiting from
out of town. But here it is. Enjoy!

***

Such a lonely little girl in a cold, cold world

Jeanny, Falco

Ihr habt
mich
verurteilt Transl.: You have judged me

Coming
Home, Falco

Chapter
Six � Windows of the Soul, Part II

Jane felt a
cool hand on her forehead and she moistened her lips. Her mouth was dry and her
throat hurt as though she�d been screaming. �What happened?�

�You
fainted,� Severus told her quietly. �Your memories
overwhelmed you.�

She
struggled to sit up, and he helped her into one of the armchairs. As soon as he
was sure she wouldn�t faint again, he let go of her and straightened.

Severus muttered a few words and a bar of chocolate
materialized out of thin air. �Here,� he handed it to her, �eat this. It�ll
help.�

Under his
watchful gaze, Jane nibbled obediently on the chocolate. When she finally could
eat no more, she put it aside. �You saw everything, didn�t you?�

He didn�t
hesitate or tried to lie. �Yes.�

�And?�

�It appears
we have more in common than I thought.�

She snorted.
�The murderer and the murderess. Yes, we�re a fine
pair.�

Awkward
silence settled over them. Severus went over to the
fireplace, rested one hand on the mantle and stared into the fire.

�Dumbledore
never disclosed the details of Beadle�s death to anyone,� he finally said,
still staring into the fire.

She nodded
slowly. �He wouldn�t have. He and the other members of the Wizengamot
were sworn to secrecy.�

�We all knew
you were somehow involved, but since no known magic could have caused
Beadle�s� injuries��

��everybody
thought that I had sliced him up in a manic frenzy,� she completed the sentence
for him.

He slightly
inclined his head. �Well, I won�t deny that some may have thought that��

�I bet,� she
snorted.

�Others, on
the other hand, myself included, thought that the two of you were attacked and he
died defending you. To this day, this is the most accepted version of what
happened.�

�Ah, yes.
The noble hero saves the damsel in distress. It never grows old.�

�Why is that
so inconceivable? He was an experienced Dark Arts teacher and you a student � by
all counts still untried, still unlearned. It was a natural assumption. No one
would have guessed that you had the ability to overpower an adult wizard and
kill him with unknown magic. It was only after you did not return to
Hogwarts that we all realized there might be more to the story. Unfortunately,
no real explanation was ever given. Needless to say, that fueled the rumors
even more.�

�No one knew
I was banished?� Jane hadn�t expected this. It certainly explained why her
return to Hogwarts had been so smooth, her welcome so warm.

�We were all
told that your parents had sent you to another school abroad, so you could get
on with your life without the constant reminder of your terrible ordeal.�

�I� see.�
She digested the information for a moment. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her.
�Then how�?�

�How did the
Order know that you had stood trial and were banished?�

She nodded.

�I believe
Dumbledore had been researching your case ever since Beadle�s death. He became
convinced that you played a pivotal role in the fight against the Dark Lord. He
charged the Order with discovering your whereabouts. As I said, he never
disclosed any details, but he did reveal that you, indeed, had been banished by
the Ministry for committing an Unspeakable Act. Needless to say, we were
stunned.�

�I can assure you, it took me by
surprise, too.�

�How did you
do it?�

She shook
her head, not wanting to remember. �I don�t know.�

�You don�t
remember?�

�No, I really
don�t know. I was in such horrible pain and I wanted him to experience
what I was going through. I wanted him to bleed as I did.�

Severus nodded distractedly. He had felt her pain. It had
been quite terrible. �And so,� he pondered out loud, �you visualized your pain,
gave it shape and projected it onto him.�

Jane shrugged.
�If you say so. I wouldn�t know. And I don�t wish
to know! Ever.�

Severus studied her thoughtfully. �What happened at the
trial,� he asked her softly.

She shook
her head. �No more.�

�You acted
in self-defense. Why were you banished?�

�Well, that
should be obvious, shouldn�t it?�

�Tell me,� Severus insisted.

�No,� she
denied him stubbornly.

He sighed. �Accio wand.�

Her eyes
grew round when she saw the determination in his eyes. �Wh-what?�

�Legilimens!�

Once more,
he invaded her mind and she resigned herself to his assault. It was much easier
to show him than having to go through the agony of voicing the words.

She was
sitting, chained to a chair, in front of the Wizangamot.
The trial had been closed to nosy and bloodthirsty onlookers, but the dungeon-like
surroundings and the sheer size of the Wizengamot
council were intimidating enough. She would have felt better, had there been
any familiar faces in the crowd. The only wizard she recognized was Professor
Dumbledore, but he did not meet her gaze. She was all alone. Her parents had
refused to come with her. They had told her what they thought of her. How she
had shamed them and brought shame upon the ancient House of Fenton. No matter
what the outcome of today�s trial, she would be dead to them.

She
hadn�t slept in days, the terror of being raped still fresh in her mind. But
now she trembled in fear of what would happen to her. She was being tried for
attacking a teacher, for murder. The wizard who served as defense
counsel had assured her that her circumstances would warrant leniency, but she
was still scared.

The scene
shifted to a later part of the trial. A heated discussion was taking place
among the Wizengamot council.

�She
attacked and killed another human being,� one witch screeched outraged. �Her professor. She must go to Azkaban!�

�You know
that is out of the question, Roberta,� Dumbledore countered mildly. �She is
underage. The law forbids underage wizards to be sent to Azkaban.�

An
elderly wizard at the end of the row opened his mouth to speak, but Dumbledore
raised his hand, bidding him to be silent.

�Nor will
we reinstate the death penalty, Albertus,� he said.
�I know how fond you are of that particular punishment, but we have fought long
and hard to abolish it. One killing does not justify another. And let me point
out again,� he looked meaningfully into the crowd, �that Miss Fenton�s
actions were provoked under the most abhorrent circumstances. Let us not forget
that she acted in self-defense. Professor Beadle�s conduct towards her was most
despicable.�

�That is
her side of the story,� another witch spoke up. �What real proof do we
have that everything occurred as she claims?�

�We have
all had the opportunity to watch Miss Fenton�s memories of the incident.�
Dumbledore remained to be the voice of reason. His gaze fell briefly on the
miserable young girl who had so readily been thrown before the wolves. He
noticed the hopeful way her eyes clung to him and sighed sadly. Her defense
counsel had turned out to be utterly useless.

�We have
also heard the testimony of Madam Pomfry,� he
continued, �who treated Miss Fenton following her attack.�

�Memories
can be altered, Albus,� the
wizard to his left threw in, �and people can be bribed. The point is:
she created a Killing Curse on a whim and used it on another human being. It is
Unspeakable as well as Unforgivable. This has never happened
before. It cannot ever happen again. We cannot take the chance. Just
consider. If she has such powers now, while she is still underage, imagine what
havoc she will wreak when she�s older. She is a danger to society. No, we
cannot take the chance.�

�We could
banish her,� a small voice piped in from the back. Several of the Wizengamot turned around to see who had spoken.

An old
grizzled witch stood up. �We could banish her from the Wiarding
world. Let her live among Muggles where she cannot
use magic.�

�She
could still use it.�

�Not if
we place a Curbing Spell, which would strip her of her powers.� She tapped a
gnarled finger against her lips, lost in thought.

The
council members began to discuss the suggestion with hushed whispers. The
accused watched them in confusion, not understanding what was happening.

The scene
shifted again.

�Clara
Fenton, you have been found guilty of murder by using an Unforgivable Curse.
You have used a most vile Killing Curse, hitherto unknown to the Wizarding world, to kill another human being, one Tristan
Beadle, Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts
School of Witchcraft
and Wizardry. Given your testimony and that of other witnesses, we allow that
you acted in self-defense. Nonetheless, it does not lessen the fact that you
have committed an Unspeakable Act.�

She
looked at them, wide-eyed, her apprehension rising. She turned to the wizard
who was supposed to be defending her, but he didn�t meet her gaze.

�It is,
therefore, the Wizengamot�s decision that you shall
be banished from the Wizarding world for the duration
of your natural life. Nor shall you be allowed any contact with anyone in our
world. You will be forbidden to use any form of magic, and your life shall be
immediately forfeit, should you violate this judgment.�

The blood
drained from her face, and had she not been chained to the chair in the center
of the room, she would have collapsed. She looked pleadingly at the wizard
standing beside her, but he only coughed and studied the fastenings on his
satchel. Next, she looked at Dumbledore, who gazed at her empathetically. His
wise eyes expressed pain and regret. She continued to look wildly from one face
to the next, but only few seemed sympathetic to her plight. A sob escaped her
lips.

The scene
dissolved, and Jane found herself once more in the Shrieking Shack. Severus sat opposite her and watched her worriedly.

�Well, now
you know,� Jane said bleakly. She felt drained.

�Damn
cowards!� He surprised her with his outburst, and she looked at him.

�Of all the
weak-brained, faint-hearted�� he cursed again, shaking his head. Severus caught himself and fixed her eyes with his. �And no
one spoke up on your behalf? Your parents? Your family?�

�Dumbledore
was the only one who tried to help me.�

�Yes,� Severus said slowly. �Albus
always had an unnatural affinity for lost causes.� He scoffed. �I should
know.�

Jane placed
her hand on his. �You�re not a lost cause, Severus. I
have faith in you.�

�Then you�re
as big a fool as Dumbledore was.� He tried to sound cold, but his voice
quavered slightly.

�Dumbledore
was no fool,� Jane assured him gently, �and neither am I.�

Severus searched her eyes, desperately wanting to believe
her. His expression betrayed nothing. He stared down at her, oddly touched by
her blind faith in him. The way she innocently clung to the idea that he could
be saved, that he was worth saving, overwhelmed him. Her thumb began to
trace lazy circles on his skin, and a muscle in his cheek began to twitch. His
gaze dropped to her hand. It looked small against his, and, yet, its simple
touch was powerful enough to arouse unfamiliar feelings within him, breaking
through the years of self-imposed restraint. His fingers involuntarily curled
around hers for the briefest of moments, before Severus
came to his senses and pulled his hand away.

�You better
go now,� he told her suddenly. �It is late.�

Jane nodded
and stood up. She wrapped her cloak around her shoulders, but hovered for a
moment.

�Um, Severus?�

He looked at
her. �What is it?�

�Um, you�re
not going to tell anyone? About tonight, I mean. About what
you saw.�

�I will have
to inform the Order of the reason for your banishment, should they ask. And we
may have to explore your Killing Curse further. I have a feeling that this
might be the reason Dumbledore wanted you back.�

�But��

He met her
worried gaze and his expression softened. �I won�t tell anyone about Beadle,
Jane.�

Jane heaved
a sigh of relief. �Thank you, Severus.�

***

Beadle
was straddling her. He had caught her hands in one of his and stretched them
high above her head. With his other hand, he pointed his wand at her face.

�It
seems,� he panted harshly, �you are not as clever as you think you are. Never,
Miss Fenton, approach a fallen enemy, unless you know for certain that he is
dead.�

Jane tossed
and turned in her bed. A sob escaped her lips.

�Expelliarmus!� A
familiar authoritative voice sounded across the room.

Beadle�s
wand was ripped from his hand and hit the floor. The next moment, she was
suddenly free, when Beadle was lifted forcibly off her prone form. Severus had grabbed Beadle by the neck and was shaking him,
a terrible expression on his face. Jane shivered. She had never seen him this
furious. He looked as though he was going to tear the Dark Arts teacher apart
with his bare hands.

�What do
you think you are doing, Beadle,� he demanded in a dangerously low voice.

�She�
I�,� Beadle began to stammer miserably.

�Time�s
up,� Severus barked. He cast Beadle aside with utter
disgust. �You better start running, Beadle.�

However,
as soon as he found himself free of the Potions master�s vice-like grip, Beadle
stumbled away and called his wand. He aimed it at the man who�d added to his
humiliation, but Severus was ready for him. A silent
dance of death ensued, as the two men began to duel, casting spell after spell
at each other. Jane propped herself up to watch. Severus
was feigning and attacking lightning quick, like a snake. He struck and
withdrew. He dodged and countered. Beadle was becoming increasingly flustered
and started making mistakes. In the end, he stumbled through the classroom,
making a desperate effort to escape Snape�s attack. Severus flicked his wand once more, and Beadle was
propelled against the wall. The Dark Arts teacher slid slowly to the floor and
moved no more.

A sob of
relief left Jane�s lips and caught Severus�
attention. He rushed to her side and gathered her into his arms with such care
and tenderness that it almost broke her heart. He cradled her to him as he had
in the Shrieking Shack, as though she was precious to him.

�It�s
over now,� he soothed her, pressing his lips gently to her temple.

Jane
didn�t look up. She lay sobbing in his arms, her face buried against his chest,
unable to push the terror she had just experienced from her mind.

�Shhh,� he whispered. �I�m here.�

His
tender voice touched her heart, giving her the strength to meet his eyes. �Severus, I��

�What a
touching picture,� a malicious voice behind them interrupted her. Beadle!

�Avada Kedavra,� Beadle cried
triumphantly.

Severus reached for his wand, but he reacted too
slowly. Hit, he collapsed and remained crumbled on the floor, motionless.

�SEVERUS!�

Jane jolted upright
with his name on her lips. She was desperately gasping for air, and her heart
raced as though it was going to explode. She stared unseeingly into the
darkness, waiting for the terror of her nightmare to gradually recede. For the
first time in many years, her old nightmare had returned. Only this time it had
been much worse. This time, her own terror had been nothing compared to the one
she�d experienced watching Severus die. The pain of
losing him had been unbearable.

Suddenly a
thought occurred to her, and her eyes widened as it hit her. Oh no! She
couldn�t be in love with him?! Or could she? Jane�s sobs slowly
subsided, as began to examine this possibility more closely. He was cold and intimidating, she began to count off on her fingers. But,
she caught herself, he had been patient and gentle
when he had massaged away her migraine. And had he not caught her in his arms
when she fainted tonight? Held her close and comforted her? Sure, Jane had to
admit, she wouldn�t have fainted, if he hadn�t made her relive the worst times
of her life. She frowned. This wasn�t going very well. She focused once more. Severus was dispassionate, disdainful, forever
disapproving, simply insufferable. But, then again, he was a good
teacher. He was knowledgeable and experienced. It was understandable that he
set high standards. He knew she was capable of great things and challenged her.
And he really wasn�t dispassionate, she thought. Just because he didn�t yell
didn�t mean he wasn�t emotional. He definitely had a short fuse and quite a
temper.

Jane
cringed. She was making excuses for him. That could only mean one thing � she
was in love with him! She groaned.

===

A/N #2:
I hope this met your expectations and answered some of your questions.

Lost and
Found � 2005 by MMHG

===
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