Chapter One: Team Meetings

Disclaimer: the characters aren't mine, the Potterverse isn't mine, even the prompt is someone else's!

Many thanks to my helpful, brilliant beta, ladyinthecloak, you are fabulous!

Chapter 1: Team Meetings

May 8th 1998

The hospital was government sponsored to care for patients who did not have the funds to check themselves into the more elegant, private institutions in the well-heeled part of town. Staffing was difficult to say the least, as the funding was not generous, salaries were lean, and refurbishment of the facilities was infrequent. The current staff consisted of some who were philanthropic souls bent on saving the world, joined by others who were too jaded and cynical to bother finding work elsewhere. It made for interesting team meetings.

***

"Right, folks, let's get this meeting underway. Is everyone here? Have you all got coffee, visited the loo, and brought notes? Let me see, Margaret, you are the lead nurse for this patient? Yes? Amanda... social work, Leon... psychologist. Great, on time for once! Now, who would like to start? Yes, go ahead, Margaret."

"The patient was admitted on May 2nd, after spending the night in the local Casualty Department. She had been brought in by Ambulance after having been found collapsed in an alleyway near the hospital. She is female, (yes, Leon, obviously), aged around eighteen to nineteen, with no identification found on or near her. Physical examination at Casualty revealed a thin, unkempt young woman, dressed casually, with assorted abrasions and contusions, mostly over her arms and face. There was no apparent injury or medical condition of significance found, and after a few hours' observation, she regained consciousness spontaneously. No, Amanda, there was no sign of alcohol or drug intoxication.

"Since then, she has showed evidence of severe anxiety, responding with fear to minimal stimuli, and has refused to speak. She was referred here under the assumption that she had experienced a serious psychologically traumatic event in the absence of any physical evidence of harm or disease. Since arrival, her vital signs remain stable; she eats little and remains withdrawn and uncommunicative. She was having some sleep disturbance with nightmares from which she woke tearful and shaking, but the sleeping medication you charted has helped."

"OK, that's the official position, Margaret, now what do you think personally?"

"Personally? I think the poor kid's had something really bad happen to her, something so bad that she doesn't want to deal with it just yet, and instead of pushing her, Leon, we should be giving her as much TLC as possible in this godforsaken place and wait for her to tell us when she is ready. That's what I think, personally, Dr Richardson!"

"Well, that's all very considerate of you, Margaret, but I am not paid to sit around on my hands, waiting for your precious patient to decide it's time to spill the beans!"

"You are supposed to be the "understanding" person in this team, Leon. Pull your head out of your arse and remember what little you retained from that fancy University of yours!"

"OK, OK, boys and girls, there is no need to get personal. Amanda, have you made any progress in identifying the young lady yet?"

"No, sir, but I have checked the missing files at all the city police stations, and none match her description. I have a friend in the Head Office doing a computer search on the surrounding areas. I am still hoping that she will be more forthcoming once she improves a little."

"Right, well, I suspect that all we can do at this stage is to provide for her immediate needs, make ourselves available should she wish to talk, and await developments. Anything else? No...? Right then, back to the front, troops!"

***

In a small, unadorned room, the subject of the meeting lay on the hard bed, staring at the ceiling. She appeared to be solely concerned with counting the small holes in the panels that lined the ceiling. A tray of food lay barely touched on the bedside cabinet. Her pale face was devoid of emotion, as if she was afraid to let any feelings in or out. Lacklustre hair splayed out on the pillow, framing her frail features. Her faithless hands were the only jarring factor, twisting together endlessly, betraying her inner despair.

From time to time she would let escape an almost silent whimper as a sole tear crept down her cheek, unwanted, unnoticed and unproductive.

***

The Healer and the Mediwitch in charge of the case were cloistered in a small room off the Dai Llewellyn Ward on the second floor of St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Their patient, the famous, or infamous as some would see it, Professor Severus Snape, remained in a coma following profuse blood loss and neural toxicity from the bite of the defeated Voldemort's snake, Nagini.

***

"How is our patient today, Madam Aubrey? Has he shown any change in his aura?"

"Not at all, Healer Pye, he remains deeply unconscious. We have successfully sealed the wound, replenished his blood volume, and eliminated the toxins, but he has shown no sign of improvement. If he hadn't been self-administering the antitoxin and a blood thickener before the bite, he would have been beyond our help before he was found. As it was, he owes Harry Potter his life. If he hadn't returned to bring his body out of the Shrieking Shack, he would not have lasted much longer. I just can't understand why he has not regained consciousness."

"He had been leading an extremely stressful life prior to the final injury, he is underweight and in poor condition; I suspect his body will need more time to recover from that final insult. Nevertheless, Madam Aubrey, remain alert; if he returns to us unattended, he will not be aware of the outcome of the War and may be inclined to flee. I understand from Mr Potter that he is working to clear Snape's name, but the hearing is not yet scheduled, so be aware that some factions on either side may have a vested interest in ensuring he does not wake."

"My staff are aware of the risk. There are wards on his room to prevent unauthorised entry or exit. Mr Potter placed them himself."

"Excellent. Now onto the next case..."

***

The warded room was light and airy despite the lack of windows. The bed was functional, yet comfortable, but its occupant was unappreciative. His face, gaunt and sallow, showed no sign of awareness of his surroundings, his breathing so quiet one could be mistaken in thinking he had given up his tenuous hold on life. His hands lay above the bedcovers, scarred and still.

A single lily displayed in a simple vase was the only ornament in the room, placed there by the young man he had sworn, by his love for the mother, to protect at all costs.

***

The house at number twelve, Grimmauld Place stood as a grim reminder to the follies of pure-blood bigotry. Its original family now gone, replaced by the victors of the Wizarding War, Mudblood Lovers and Blood Traitors alike. If the house were sentient, it would have shrugged off the interlopers and taken itself off to a more aristocratic locality. However, it was just a house and so remained to host the post-war meetings of the Order of the Phoenix.

***

"I don't get it, Harry, why are you so bloody obsessed with getting Snape off the hook. I know he loved your mother and all, but he was still a nasty piece of work! You don't even seem to have time to miss Hermione, Fred and all the others who died!"

"Look, Ron, don't you see? If I let Snape go to Azkaban, that just makes all their sacrifices meaningless. They died to save the Wizarding World from injustice and prejudice, and isn't THAT exactly why Snape is in the situation he is in now? He made mistakes, years ago, but has redeemed himself time and again; how many times has he saved your sorry arse?

"I know, I didn't see it either until I saw his memories, but you have seen them too. You know what he went through, how hard it was, and yet you are holding on to your old prejudices still. Wasn't it Hermione who always told us to respect him, even if we didn't like him? Didn't she suspect that all was not as it seemed when Dumbledore died? If you really loved her, then respect HER opinions, and help me with his case."

"Now, boys... sorry, young men, it is time you put your differences aside and work together. Harry, you are right; I'm sure this is something Hermione would have done herself if she had been here, and, Ronald, you need to support Harry in this. You don't have to like it, but you DO have to be fair!"

"Sorry, Professor McGonagall, I just can't forget how unfairly he treated us! But I will help Harry; just don't expect me to get chummy with Snape if he does wake up!"

"I hardly think Severus is likely to be feeling chummy with anyone for a long time yet, and likely never, going by past experience, so your feelings towards him are a moot point. Nevertheless, we all need to remember that until the remaining Death Eaters are rounded up, he will still be at risk."

"Constant Vigilance!"

"Harry! You sounded just like Mad-Eye Moody then, nearly frightened the life out of me! I thought he'd come back to haunt us!"

"Sorry, Ron, couldn't resist!"

***

In a well-appointed office at the Ministry, the new Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, closed the file on his desk with a satisfying snap. Harry Potter had for once done his research thoroughly. His findings, together with the memories Severus Snape had given him before the final battle, should easily suffice to clear Snape's name once and for all. The current Wizengamot, having got rid of such parasites as Dolores Umbridge, was for the first time in years a fair and functional organisation. Just before he left the office, he turned and surveyed his domain. Maybe, just maybe, there was a future for the Wizarding World after all.

***

A/N: Based on prompt 93. "Someone has his or her powers stripped away for misuse. Did he/she lose them because of actual misuse or was it a set up? How do they get them back?"