Taking Eileen away

Snape stood in the corner, surrounded by the various objects his mother had thrown at him. Fortunately, he had dodged every one and escaped injury.

"She refuses to let anyone near her now. I think you've made this trip for nothing."

He glanced at the two who had heard the commotion from downstairs and hurried up, then spoke coldly before expressionlessly tidying the mess on the floor.

"Ms. Eileen Prince?"

North gently called her name, but the surname seemed to set her off, and she began trembling uncontrollably.

"No, I'm not. I'm not Eileen Prince.

"I'm... I'm Eileen Snape.

"I'm not..."

Eileen huddled in the corner between the bed and the wall, murmuring denials over and over.

"Miss, she's too distressed. We can't communicate with her."

North shook his head helplessly. Anna thought for a few seconds, took a small vial of potion from her pocket, and walked over to Snape.

The clear crystal vial was exquisite, and the ice-blue potion inside was flawless and translucent, shimmering with a captivating luster. One look was enough to tell it was of the finest quality.

"Miss, this is something His Excellency specially..."

"North, I believe I have the right to decide what to do with this potion."

Anna quickly cut him off before he could finish.

"This is a healing potion. I think she'll feel better after drinking it. Could you give it to her for me?"

Having spent his life studying Potions, Snape naturally recognized what was in the vial. Even at his peak, he would have struggled to brew a Soul Stabilizing Potion of this quality, yet the girl before him had handed it over without hesitation and called it a healing potion.

"I don't know what you want from her, and we can't afford to pay you for something like this."

He was certain that no such group had ever come looking for Eileen in his previous life. The sudden, unknown change made him instinctively wary.

"We found several plants that are close to extinction. They'll begin to wither in another week, and from what I've read, only the Prince family knows how to harvest and preserve them.

"That was our original purpose."

Anna withdrew her outstretched hand and explained why she had come, her eyes fixed on the boy before her.

His vacant eyes puzzled her, and coupled with the contract's sudden change just now, a bold guess sprang irresistibly to mind.

But she still felt it wasn't a good time to test her guess, so she turned, took a few steps forward, and slowly approached Eileen on the bed.

"We went to Prince Manor this morning. Mr. Regt Prince...

"Ms. Eileen, your grandfather is in very poor health. He's at St Mungo's Hospital now, and the healers there say he may not make it through the winter."

At the familiar name, Eileen flinched, but her trembling body slowly grew still.

Perhaps the mention of death had affected her. Eileen gradually regained her senses and managed to focus, as if she wanted to hear more about her grandfather.

"We saw him at the hospital.

"Mr. Prince told me he regretted being so strict in raising you, and that he regretted telling you never to come back.

"But what he regretted most was never telling you how much he loved you.

"Can you imagine it? An old man of nearly a hundred, his hair gray, lying in a hospital bed, calling his granddaughter's name over and over, unable to stop his tears.

"You don't have nothing. On the contrary, you have more than you imagine."

The girl's voice was gentle and melodious, every word clear and strong. Like a murmuring stream, it flowed into Eileen's battered heart, gradually mending her fragile spirit.

"I promised that poor, skeletal old man lying in the hospital bed. I promised I would bring you to him.

"Don't you want to hear him say those things to you himself?"

Anna held out her small hand to Eileen. The atmosphere in the room softened, and Eileen looked hesitantly at the fair, delicate hand, as if she saw her only hope in it.

After a few seconds of stalemate, Snape saw his mother slowly extend her right hand.

"Bang-"

Just then, a tremendous noise came from downstairs, followed by a man's cursing voice. It shattered Eileen's beautiful dream, and she quickly drew back her hand.

But Anna was faster. She seized Eileen's retreating hand and pulled her out of the corner.

"Don't be afraid. There's nothing to fear."

Anna embraced Eileen. The girl's distinctive fragrance had a calming effect, and Eileen felt how soft and lovely the petite girl in her arms was, and the complete trust she placed in her. Eileen stopped struggling.

"North, although I've said I hope wizards and Muggles can live together in peace, that does not include scum."

Anna continued patting Eileen's back gently to soothe her, while turning her head to signal North to deal with the trouble downstairs.

Though her voice remained soft, anyone could hear the chilling coldness in her words.

"Don't hurt him, please. Don't hurt him. He's my husband."

Eileen clutched her arm and pleaded.

"I'm only having him hit with a Stunning Spell. You know that spell won't hurt him.

"Get some good sleep first. When you wake up, I'll take you to St Mungo's to see your grandfather. He's still waiting for you.

"I promise, when you wake up, all the pain will be far behind you, and you'll find happiness again."

In the end, Eileen was made to drink the Soul Stabilizing Potion from the crystal vial. It took effect quickly, and the frail woman fell into a deep sleep. North also finished dealing with matters downstairs and returned to the room.

"Prince Manor has been neglected for some time since Mr. Prince was admitted to the hospital. It isn't suitable for her recovery.

"We plan to take your mother to my manor first. She's far too weak right now. She needs at least a good night's rest and treatment for her physical injuries.

"Is there anything you need to pack, Mr. Snape?"

Anna straightened her somewhat disheveled clothes, retied her cloak, and addressed the person standing silently beside her.

"You came looking for Eileen, not me."

He was unaccustomed to her overly familiar manner, and he didn't know whether what Anna had just said was true. The many twists and turns of the day made him wonder whether this world was a dream.

"But I wouldn't feel at ease leaving you here alone, unless you want to be alone with the drunkard downstairs.

"Besides, you're a member of the Prince family too. When Mr. Prince sees his great-grandson tomorrow, perhaps his condition will improve considerably.

"Don't worry. If we were bad people, we wouldn't be treating you so gently. You can feel it too—we mean no harm."

Everything that needed to be said had been said. Snape could find no reason to refuse again, so he pressed his lips together and offered no further objection.

North carried Eileen in his arms like a gentleman, while the two fake children each held on to his clothing. After a bout of spinning and disorientation, they arrived safely back at Grindelwald Manor.