Snape sits at his desk deep in thought, his mind running over the events of the last few days. He hasn't slept yet. It didn't make any sense to him to even lie down, he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep. He's not sure what he wants to know more, the details of Malfoy's meeting with the Inquisitor, or Elsbet's. Elsbet's, really, Malfoy's he can guess at, and probably be right. But Oddbit...why was she unconsious? What happened to her in there, and will she even tell him? That question is almost worse than the other; she keeps everything bottled up inside and probably always has. Sooner or later something's going to give, and he knows it won't be pretty when it does.

And he'll have to clean up the mess.

It would be so much simpler if she'd just share. Ah, but what if what she's got inside is so bad that she's afraid he can't handle it? He laughs at that. But then, she doesn't know what horrible things he's seen, and not flinched. She doesn't know the things he's done, in the service of his Masters. She doesn't know the true depth of his darkness. And he's not about to tell her, either.

But that's different, though. Doesn't she understand that he needs to know what troubles her? What if...he frowns...she's actually waiting to share everything until after the war is over? He rubs his temples, his tired eyes burning, but that's ridiculous. He closes his eyes and takes a wizard's nap, letting the clutter in his mind fall to the bottom like leaves from a tree. But the thought of her waiting really isn't ridiculous. She has a very good grasp of what he carries on his shoulders, and he knows in her heart she does not wish to add to his burden.

That's the beauty of her nature. No, he corrects himself, the beauty of her nature is to nurture and love. However...he has to be realistic. He wants her to want to share, to let him in, but after two years, he's afraid it's going to have to come down to an ultimatum. The thought of laying something like that down on her upsets him, but it is for her own good, as well as his. But at this point, he's not sure what he'll do if she refuses.

As his wizard's nap deepens he thinks about the books and scrolls he found in the library, which he forgot to leave for her last night. No matter, really, it gives him a chance to give it all a more thorough examination. His intuition tells him that what they hold is of great value not only to Elsbet, but to himself and the rest of their little group as well. Oh, he wishes he could sleep...even just an hour or two, but that's not likely to happen any time soon.

He becomes aware of a raven in the passage above him, and as he senses the little door opening his eyes flutter open. He looks up slowly, expecting to see Cambion, or perhaps even Master Han's magpie familiar. But it is neither the brilliant mixling nor Cerulean--it's Therion. It's just so surreal to look up and see the brown raven peering down; as he drops from the passage to the floor Snape's mind races. Cambion must have told him about the passage, but what could be so important that Cambion couldn't bring the message himself? Unless...

Therion stands up slowly and looks around the Headmaster's office. It honestly hasn't changed much since he was here at Hogwarts. He looks at Dumbledore and grins widely at the Elder wizard's surprised expression, then looks down at Snape. He didn't think it was possible, but the man's even paler than usual. Taking a deep breath, Therion says quietly, hesitantly, "he's had..." he thinks about what the healers said, "an aortic dissection, followed by a heart attack." Therion says it as delicately as possible, but Snape still seems to just fold in on himself. Both wizards are aware of Dilys Derwent asking who's had a dissection and how quickly did they get to St. Mungo's, but instead of telling her, Therion merely bows curteously to her and saying, "he's alright now, Headmisstress Derwent."

He looks back to Snape to find his friend's black eyes searching his face desperately. "I had to come...Cambion just couldn't bear the message himself, you know how he gets when he's emotional, he makes no sense at all, and I felt...well...that you should have it person to person anyway." A familiar, high reedy voice demands, "Merlin's beard, Bonecastle! Will you just tell us who's been stricken?" Therion shuts his eyes and doesn't turn to face Phineas Nigellus. Snape rises slowly and says quietly, "Lucius Malfoy. He's defected." He grips Therion's shoulder. "How...how is he?"

None of the portraits speak; it is as if they are all holding their collective hypothetical breath. "Better than could be expected. He's very, very lucky." One of the portraits finally asks, "you're certain, Severus? You're certain of Malfoy's defection?" Snape nods. "Yes, Armando, I am as certain of Lucius as Dumbledore was of me." Someone says, "oh, my..." and Dumbledore folds his hands on his lap, his twinkling eyes looking out at Snape over the rim of his glasses. "Severus," he says softly, "what, may I ask, brought about his sudden change of heart?"

My secret one, Snape thinks, and tells him, "Elsbet." He looks at Therion suddenly. "Who was with him when it happened? When did it happen? How--" Therion steadies him and says, "I was with him. It happened this morning, about two...almost three hours ago, just shortly after breakfast. I noticed he didn't look right, and Ellie asked me to keep an eye on him because she was going to be at the dojo, so after we ate, I had the feeling I'd better take him out to our friends instad of my shop. We were just in sight of the gates when it happened."

Snape walks over to the window and looks up at the sky. His head pounds and his heart races. His heart..."Where is Elsbet?" Therion smiles. "She's with him. Hasn't left his side since she got to it. Remus and Tonks have been to see him, but they're...they're really not sure what to do. The healers say that it was all the stress he's been under the last couple of years, and..." he sighs, "all the tortures he's endured. The last one was the worst. They're amazed it didn't happen then. The Elder Mother said it's because he has something to live for." Snape relaxes. "The Elder Mother healed him?"

Therion nods and tells him Malfoy is in the best hands he could be in. "Can you...can you get away tonight? He asked for you, before he woke up." He lowers his voice and says, "he was afraid, as you can imagine, but when he saw Ellie curled up next to him...he was much better." Snape nods and sits back down at the desk. "I will be there as soon as I can," he says, and Therion tells him not to worry. With a last look around the Headmaster's office, he shifts back to his raven form, flits back up to the passageway, then heads home.

"I always knew that boy would come to his senses," Phineas Nigellus says, and Snape shoots him a side glance. He smirks and says, "and what of Lucius? Did you hold out any such hope for him?" The snarky old wizard frowns. "Not a one. It's a complete surprise." Dumbledore smiles almost fatherly down at Snape, who occupies himself with school business he's been putting off. "Yes," the Elder wizard says, clearly amused, "some Slytherins have a way of totally defying expectations."