Disclaimer: All the things you recognize belong to JKR, the plot is mine

A/N:  Thanks to all those who've read an reviewed!!  Here we are, now you'll all find out who she is!

Every time he went to that hospital and greeted her, he always hoped somewhere in the back of his mind that she'd open her eyes, give him a punch on the shoulder, and greet him.

That hadn't happened in the past 18 years.

Severus sat down in the chair next to the stark bed, and took her hand.

"Hi, Annie.  Happy Birthday.  You're a whopping thirty-six today, little sister.  You don't look a day over eighteen.  Irony at its best, you always said you wanted to stay young forever, didn't you?"

Severus sighed, and dug around in his pocket.

"I brought you a present, Anniekins.  It's a locket with mum and dad in it.  Silver, I know you hate gold," he said with a half smile on his face.

Leaning over his sister, his clasped the necklace around her thin neck, and arranged it until he was satisfied.

"We've got a lot coming up, Ann, I'm going to be working with the Augmen Serpentis plant.  I might even have something that could help you.  Then you could wake up, and you could come back."

She was the only person he let his guard down to, ever.  She was his precious little sister, the sister he'd failed so many years ago.  He couldn't remember the day without becoming sick to his stomach.

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"Welcome my faithful friends," Voldemort hissed, "We've got a very special treat tonight for our little gathering."

The Death Eaters all murmured their approval, and the Dark Lord hushed them.

"Our friend Lucius found a particularly lovely young girl… exploring the grounds around the Manor.  As you all know, the Dark Lord rewards neither foolishness nor intrusion.  Lucius, bring in our visitor so we may show her what it means to cross the wrong path."

Lucius Malfoy walked in, pointing his wand behind him, levitating a body.

Severus retched immediately, "Annie!" he gasped, inaudibly.

Lucius stood her up, she looked fearfully at the cloaked figures in front of her.  Severus wasn't sure if he was happy or not that she could not distinguish his face. 

"Crucio," Voldemort flung the spell at her.

Annabelle dropped to the floor, convulsing in pain, yet not emitting any sound.

Voldemort chuckled, "Cum tacent clamant, or so they say."

"When they remain silent, they cry out," Severus whispered, recognizing the quote from Cicero.

When he'd finally released her of the curse, Voldemort turned to his men, "Who wants to teach our little snoop a lesson?"

MacNair, Malfoy, Lestrange, and Crabbe all descended upon his precious sister, spouting curses, while Severus watched, helplessly, tears stinging in his eyes.  He knew what the only humane thing would be.

Severus lowered his hood, and at the sight of him, Annabelle let out a loud sob.  He locked his eyes on her.

"Obliviate ex tempore!" 

In a flash of light, Annabelle was on the ground, silent.  The Death Eaters turned to look at him.

"Now, Severus, why did you put an end to our fun?"  Voldemort asked silkily.

Combating his tumultuous stomach, Snape looked at the Dark Lord, "We've got better thing to do than toy with a child, I should think.  She's of no consequence, she's only just graduated from Hogwarts."

"So you know her?  What is her name?"

Snape shrugged passively, "I don't know, she was in Ravenclaw, I think, I don't take time to remember their names."

Voldemort looked pensively at the beautiful girl in a pile on his floor, "Take her back to that Mudblood-lover Dumbledore, leave her anonymously outside the castle.  They should know what happens if you cross the Dark Side."

Snape nodded, and picked up his baby sister in his arms, and walked out the door.  As soon as he was outside, Severus set her down, walked over to a hedge, and vomited until his throat was raw.

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"You have to wake up, Annie, I have to explain.  I know you will, Ann.  I had to use that spell, you know I had to, Annie.  God, I'm sorry, I am so sorry."

Even Dumbledore had never seen him like that, like the scared 22-year-old kid he was that night, the night he decided to go back.

Severus was starlted by a knock at the door behind him.

"Mister Snape," came the nasal voice, "visiting hours are up."

Snape nodded without turning around.  He bent down over his sister, and kissed her gently on the forehead.

"I'll see you soon, Annie."

He turned and left, not wanting to look back at the face of his comatose sister.

Once outside the hospital, Severus apparated to Hogsmeade, and walked into The Three Broomsticks.  He sat himself down at his favorite secluded booth in the back.  Madam Rosmerta walked over to him, and set down a crystal tumbler and a bottle of Odgen's Firewhiskey.

"It's on the house, Severus."

Snape peered up at the woman curiously.

"Severus," she sighed, "You've been coming in on June seventh at six-fifteen for the past eighteen years.  I won't ask, I just think you need a drink… or a friend," he glared at her and poured himself a glass as she walked away.

"Vita brevis," he said to himself, and tipped the contents of the glass down his throat, relishing the slightly masochistic sensation of the burning.

Severus didn't know how much he drank, but his cue to stop was when he couldn't even remember what a bezoar was.  He stood up from his booth, and walked shakily out the door.  He slowly teetered back up to Hogwarts, as the sun was setting.

Up in his office, Albus Dumbledore was watching the sunset over the lake, like he always did on calm summer evenings.  A slight motion on the grass caught his eye.  He peered down at his inebriated Potions Master.  Without hesitation, he glanced at his calendar, and confirmed his suspicions.

Severus entered laboriously into the Great Hall, and was surprised to see Dumbledore sitting at the Head Table, with food in front of him.  He furrowed his brow, and shuffled over to join the Headmaster.

"Good evening, Severus.  Annabelle's birthday again, is it?"

"How'd you know?"  Severus asked, his voice slurring.

"It's the only time of the year you go to Rosmerta at six and come back by ten when you're unable to remember the uses of unicorn blood in medical draughts."

Severus shook his head, "Bezoars."

"Ah, forgive me.  Why don't you sit down, Severus, as the House Elves have gone to the trouble of providing me with more than enough food for two, and I don't believe you've eaten all day."

Snape grumbled, but sat down, and began eating.  Albus watched the younger man for a few minutes in silence.

"You know, Severus, you did the right thing.  I would have done the same for a family member."

Severus looked up from his chicken, and narrowed his eyes at the Headmaster, "You don't know what you're talking about.  I should be dead right now for letting it go on.  I should have died rather than let them defile her.  My own flesh and blood.  You've got to take off those damn rose-colored glasses, man!  The world's not getting any better!"  he roared at Dumbledore.

Sevrus stood up, glaring at the Headmaster who calmly returned his gaze.  In a fit of rage, Snape picked up his crystal goblet, and threw it against the wall.

"Damn you all!"

He stalked off to his chambers, and slammed the door.  Severus madly paced around the room, looking for an outlet for his anger.  His eyes fell upon his work bench, covered in parchment and bottles.

"Aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrggggghhhhhhhhhhh!"  he cried savagely, and swept the contents onto the floor, throwing bottles, and ripping paper.  When he was finally sated, Severus slumped down on the floor, and before passing out, muttered a charm at the things he'd ruined.

"Reparo,"  and he was out.

The next morning, Severus Snape opened his eyes, and instantly his brain began throbbing against his skull.  He groaned and began to crawl across the floor to his bed chamber.  Severus hoisted himself up, with the aid of his bed, and teetered precariously.  He quickly discarded his clothes, which smelled of alcohol, sweat, and an assortment of poitions.

Severus stepped into the shower, the water scalding hot, the way he preferred it.  He washed his long, lean body with his obsidian soap.  He noted that, even after over 20 years, the sight of the Dark Mark still startled him occasionally.  He poured some lemon thyme shampoo in his hand, working it through his hair to neutralize the scents.

After he was finished bathing, Severus stepped out, and dried himself off.  He dressed quickly, and set out for the Greenhouses again to find Professor Sprout.

He found her, today, in Greenhouse One, cleaning out the mandrake planters.

"Good morning, Severus."

"Morning.  I have a question for you, if you don't mind."

"Certainly not, how many I help?"

"Well, in all of my research on Augmen Serpentis, I have never come across an expert in the plant.  There are, of course, the general experts on dark plants, but none on this plant in particular, do you know of any?"

Professor Sprout thought for a moment, "You know, I don't.  There was only one that I knew of."

"Well, who is it?"

"Elle MacDuffy, I believe she was in your grade.  But's she's been long dead."

Severus was startled at this news, "She's dead?"

"Yes, she was apparently working for the Ministry, tailing Peter Pettigrew, as a matter of fact.  She was the first Witch on the scene when that incident with Black happened, she was killed by Pettigrew.  It was a terrible loss, but the Ministry didn't want it publicized, because when they caught Black, they thought they had the suspect, no one wanted other people to know they'd been following Pettigrew.  Thought it'd tarnish his name.  How ironic.  Anyway, the Ministry left her out of the books, I guess there was something else wrong, something about her husband, but I'm not sure."

"Hmm.  So, how do you know she knew about the plant?"

"Well, she came to Hogwarts one day, asking me if I knew anything about it.  I told her all I knew, and she said she was interested in studying it, I asked her to keep me updated.  That was about a year before she was killed, but she never got back to me on it, I figured it was confidential."

"Do you suppose she kept any notes?"

"Oh, I'm sure she did, I woulnd't know where to look for them, though, Severus."

"Do you know what her married name was, by any chance, I might be able to look up next of kin."

"Ooh, what was it?  Frank, maybe?  And her first name must've been Eleanor, I can't fathom anything else Elle would be short for."

Snape nodded, "Thank you very much, I'll be off now."

"You're quite welcome Severus.  You should have breakfast, you look horrid."

Snape bit his tongue, and left the stagnant glass building.  He trudged up to the Great Hall, with the sun beating down on his back, heating up his black robes.

He was grateful for the coolness of the Hall, and he sat down at the Head Table for lunch.  The Headmaster, Hagrid, and Professor Sinistra soon joined them.

Dumbledore glanced over at Snape, "Feeling well this morning, Severus?"

Snape looked guilitly at the Headmaster, "Yes, sir."

Dumbledore chuckled, "Sir?  I don't believe you've called he that in a long time!  No need to begin again!"

"Albus, do you know where I might find any remaining personal belongings of Elle MacDuffy?"

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows interestedly at Snape, "Why do you ask, Severus?"

"I know she did some work on the Augmen Serpentis before her, ah, untimely death.  I was hoping to look at her notes."

The Headmaster nodded, "I will look into it for you, Professor, as soon as I am able."

"Thank you, Albus."

Snape finished quickly, and walked back down to the laborotory. 

A/N:  I really hope you're enjoying this.  I'd love it if you could leave a reivew, it really helps me out a lot!  Thanks so much!  Have a great week!