The Pack Joins the Search
Date: Sunday, 12 November
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Place: Residence of Oliver Wood
Characters Involved: Any of Spinner's End 'pack' who wish to be, Oliver Wood, Nymphadora Tonks, anyone else at the Wood's house involved in the search, OPEN
Rating: Probably R for language and tension
( 'Nothing is easier than to denounce the evildoer; nothing is more difficult than to understand him.' ~Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821 - 1881) )
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Place: Residence of Oliver Wood
Characters Involved: Any of Spinner's End 'pack' who wish to be, Oliver Wood, Nymphadora Tonks, anyone else at the Wood's house involved in the search, OPEN
Rating: Probably R for language and tension
( 'Nothing is easier than to denounce the evildoer; nothing is more difficult than to understand him.' ~Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821 - 1881) )
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair - which had the happy side-effect of straightening it out a bit from his scuffle with Wood, though he winced slightly as his fingers brushed the knot on the back of his head.
"I think June would want you to do whatever was needed to be most useful. Unfortunately in a situation such as this, I doubt anyone truly knows what that might be. If they find Winifred and she is injured, your Healing skills might be top priority. On the other hand, if the Woods expect June to be able to function as a liaison with whatever information comes in here... well... you can see for yourself.
"I know it's selfish, especially in light of the situation, but we've come this far with her reconstruction. I don't want it set-back by anything, if we can avoid it. When she's had some sleep, she'll be all right, and in the mean time, if she was pushing herself to be functional, there's really nothing to do!"
The last was said with a growl of frustration. Even his trip to Knockturn was merely so he could feel 'useful'.
A two-year-old child had walked out of her house in the wee hours of the night on a full-moon night in Scotland, in November. She'd likely to have succumbed to hypothermia in less than an hour - at most.
Severus was not accustomed to clinging to false-hope. He wasn't accustomed to believing in 'hope' much, at all. Crossing the room to the small pile of toys in the corner, he picked up the cauldron he had given Winifred during their one significant interaction, peering through the translucent fuchsia material with as much intensity as Trelawny gazed into her crystal balls.
'Mine! Mine pot'n!' Her vibrant, lively visage danced in his memory. It pleased him to no end that the cauldron was clearly amongst her favourite toys.
Replacing the cauldron in precisely the same spot, he shrugged. Unaccustomed as he was to hope in any form, he simply couldn't bear to abandon it completely, now.
"By noon you could try to wake her, see if she can eat anything... All the potions you will need for the treatment are there with the meal-tray. I don't know if I'll be back in time to assist, or not. In the mean time, I don't think you need to stay with her - but it would ease my mind if you would check in on her now and then."
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It was hard to believe that something this terrible could happen to a child. Children were supposed to remain safe, and this event shook Ginny's faith in her well being.
"I'm sorry, Severus, I'm a bit emotional... I'll make sure June is safe, and we'll begin the next phase if we can. I have to, Severus Snape promised, and someone told me he rarely promises things." She smiled a bit up at home and knew he probably wanted to be on his way. He rarely did the emotion thing, and his talents could be of better use then a bedside assistant. "You'll be safe, right? I mean, I know you are cautious, but if something this terrible can happen to Wini, well.. No one is truly safe, are they?"
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Still, he shifted his shoulders uncomfortably, as though his robes suddenly itched.
"It is normal to be distraught in situations such as this," he said, hoping he sounded sympathetic rather than dismayed.
"Considering your relationship with Mr Wood," (The slight grimace of distaste would not be wholly hidden, here.) "it is only natural that you might be more concerned over the child than most people. I would not add concern for June to your already plentiful burdens if I had another option."
He smirked softly and awkwardly patted her shoulder in a poor imitation of the comfort-gestures he had seen Remus offer to others in distress.
"You are quite correct - my reputation is in your hands," he teased gently. "I will be fine, Ginevra, but I thank you for your concern. It might interest you to know that I think I caught a glimpse of the Boy Hero arriving whilst I was at the tent." Again the crinkle of his nose. "I have to return there, myself, to inform the searchers of my intent."
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"Ah, right, my relationship. Perhaps we should chat about that some other time." Not that he'd be terribly interested in the affairs of his past students and colleagues, but at least he could respect her a little more if she wasn't really seeing him. Ginny knew the two didn't get on well.
"I'm sure you're unnerved by my... verbal affection. I'm just a little paranoid; if this can happen to sweet, little, innocent Wini, then a man with your cri- well... You have your fair share of bad karma built up."
The mention of Harry made Ginny stand just a bit taller and a tad more proper. She hadn't seen him in ages, and she had no intention of letting him see her like this. She'd make certain to stay inconspicuous for the day to avoid him; there wasn't enough time for her nerves to be worked up over Wini and him as well.
The only acknowledgment she made of his announcement was a simple, "Thank you, Severus. Good luck on your trip this afternoon."
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