Eternal Shadows: A Severus Snape love story (fanfiction)

Chapter 25: Time to act Severus

Ana suddenly found herself in a place she thought was behind her, at Malfoy Manor, surprisingly outside her cell. Her sudden placement outside her cell stirred confusion and overwhelmed her, and hyperventilation seized her as she looked around, feelings of anxiety and panic entangling her in a whirlwind of thoughts. Cold shivers ran down her spine as she tried to comprehend what was happening. Had it all been a dream? Her liberation, the reunion with her family, and Severus—was it all just an illusion?

Suddenly, Finrod's voice pierced through the air, pulling her out of her thoughts.
"Anastasia!" he called out, and Ana immediately turned towards the sound. Her steps were unsure as she moved towards the cell where the sound came from. "Finrod?" she wondered, her voice trembling with confusion as she saw the familiar elf behind the cell bars.

"Hello, Ana. I'm so glad to see you, and you look well," the elf greeted with a gentle tone, as if he were unshakeable amidst all this confusion. He approached closer to the cell bars, meeting her gaze with a kindness that, despite the chaos, gave her a sense of security. Ana struggled to grasp reality, attempting to grasp the fragments of what was happening around her. It felt like she was in a nightmare—a return to a place she had hoped never to see again and wished to forget.

"Was it all a dream, Finrod? Am I still trapped in hell?" Ana asked, stressed. A feeling of desperate confusion permeated her words, as if her perception of reality had been somehow disrupted.

"It was likely all a dream," he said softly, trying to reassure her. "You're dreaming right now, Ana. This isn't reality," he added with a comforting voice in an attempt to provide her with a sense of stability. Ana took a deep breath as she remembered Finrod's special ability to manipulate and visit people's dreams. "I am visiting you in your dream, Ana, or I may have caused you to seek me out," he explained calmly while meeting her gaze.

"I am so glad to see you, Finrod," she said, grasping his hand through the bars and feeling some relief that it was a dream she was in.

"I just wanted to see how you were," he said.

"I am doing well, and I will help you get out of here, I promise," she replied firmly, attempting to give him the same reassurance he gave her.

"No, don't come back here, Ana. I'll manage. I'll find my way out somehow," he said kindly but firmly, as if he wanted to protect her from the dangers and the risk of returning to this place he knew was dangerous. It was an emotional moment between them, where their mutual concern for each other was reflected in their words and actions. Despite the separation, there was a strong sense of mutual support, an assurance that both would do everything to help each other, despite the circumstances that kept them apart.

She looked around the dark and claustrophobic environment before turning to Finrod with a burning question inside her. "Finrod, do you remember the mirror you mentioned and the riddle of its whereabouts?" She gazed intensely at the elf, hoping to find some sort of answer.

Finrod met her gaze and nodded slightly. He understood the question, even though he was unable to provide her with direct information about the mirror or its nature. "I know you cannot reveal its nature, but can you say if destroying it would lead to better times?" she asked, attempting to rephrase her question in a way that might give some sort of clue.

Finrod regarded her with a mix of understanding and appreciation for her insights, a sense of joy that she had connected the artifact's significance. With a slight nod, he confirmed her suspicions: the mirror was a Horcrux, an important part of something larger.
"My friends are out there searching for it right now," she said, and a shadow of worry swept over Finrod's face. "No, go and warn them, tell them to stay away from it," he expressed concern in his voice. "If they touch it, their lives will be at risk," he added, clearly worried about the consequences. Ana felt a surge of fear within her. It was as if an ominous shadow fell over their endeavor. She realized the dangers surrounding the mirror were significant and that attempting to destroy it could come with a high and dire cost for them all.