FicWad

Disclaimer.
J.K Rowling went out one day so I took her characters out to play.
We ran around, they laughed with glee,
All this fun and she works for free!

Yes, they're at it again. What next? This is part of my take on Wizarding Society. I see them well behind the times on the rights of women. Men still tend to hold sway and set the rules. Except for Molly Weasley. This is also set prior to the restrictions for private vehicles in London.
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As promised, Snape accompanied Phaelan into London to purchase the equipment she required. He had only a marginal understanding of what testing the potential energy manifested in magic would discover, but her theories intrigued him.

"Do you have any books on what you are trying to test in your library, Phaelan?" Snape asked. He perused the stacks he, not so long ago, had leaned on watching this woman prepare for her adventure into the world of magic. He looked up and saw the mirror; his body reacted to the memory. Looking behind him, Snape hoped she hadn't noticed.

"No," she replied, "But there will be some manuals with the equipment and maybe some texts in the store." She opened the mail her landlady had left on the table and left it for rubbish.

"Ready?" she asked. They were going to drive to the shop for the equipment.

"I suppose," he replied, with a resigned sigh.

Phaelan laughed as she led him out to her car. Severus settled himself in the passenger seat.

"Seat belt," commanded Phaelan.

"You want me to tie myself into this contraption?" Snape looked askance at Phaelan in the driver's seat.

"It's the law," she replied, reaching across him to pull the seat belt over his chest and lap, to fasten at his right hip.

"Right," he responded, clearly nervous.

"You have been in a car before, haven't you?" wondered Phaelan.

"Eh, yes. I was quite young and I sat in the back," Snape recalled, painfully. It had been a car stolen from a Muggle family during one of the early Death eater raids. A youthful Snape, and his companions, thought it would be an adventure. The car ended up in a ditch and the four miscreants landed in St Mungo's, trying to explain the injuries to a confused Mediwitch.

"Don't worry, I've never had an accident," Phaelan reassured, "Yet," she added, to tease him.

The drive was uneventful and Snape finally relaxed. Phaelan opened the sunroof. She smiled as Severus lifted his head to enjoy the sun and air.

"I hope you used sunscreen?" Phaelan observed.

"Why?" wondered Snape.

"You have Vitiligo," she observed.

"How did you guess?" a confused Snape wondered.

"It really wasn't a guess," Phaelan answered, "You tend to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and cover up when you're out," observed Phaelan, as she continued to drive, "And, you have a couple of patches of darker pigment on the back of your neck."

"Not many people have heard of it," Snape commented.

"I had a close friend in college with the condition. They used to make fun of her, because the only time we'd see her was after the sun set." She looked at him and smiled. "Sunburn can be painful."

After finding what they needed in the Muggle electrical supply store, along with a book or two for Snape, they made their way to Charing Cross Rd to visit Diagon Alley. Phaelan entered the Leaky Cauldron, remembering her first day at the book shop that had brought her to this world. Had it really been less than a month? If felt like a life time.

Exiting from the rear, Snape tapped the stone wall to reveal Diagon Alley to Phaelan. Her eyes widened as the archway began to reveal itself.

Stepping through, Phaelan was agog at the bustling street just beyond Muggle London. Beside her, Snape transformed his clothes back into the trademark billowing black robes, before continuing.

"This is incredible. How could this place exist inside London and yet be totally hidden?" She shook her head.

Snape was silently pleased at her reaction. He was afraid she was becoming blasé about his world. It would be safer for her to maintain a bit of awe and caution.

"Come, Gringotts is this way. You can make a withdrawal and set up your exchange agreement for your Muggle bank." Snape indicated the way and took her elbow.

Her manner of dress screamed Muggle to the crowds in the Alley and she was feeling a bit out of place. While she took in everything around her, Phaelan made sure to stay close to Snape for her own comfort and protection.

The bank was nothing like the modern structures Phaelan was used to. It looked like it was about to topple over. As she entered, Phaelan was struck by a childhood memory of the first time she saw the movie Mary Poppins. The interior of the bank looked almost the same as the one Mr. Banks worked at.

"Do you have your key?" Snape asked.

Reaching into her wallet, Phaelan pulled out the old fashioned brass key and showed it to Severus.

"Don't loose it. That's your identification to get into your vault," he instructed, as they lined up for the next teller.

"Next please," called a nasal voice. "Oh, another Muggle." The ugly creature looked down his nose.

"I'd like to see my vault and make a withdrawal please," stated Phaelan.

"Do you have your key?" asked the creature.

Phaelan held her key up to show the horrible little twerp.

"Very well; Crup!" he yelled and another of the same creatures scurried over.

"Follow me," He indicated to the pair and they made their way to a waiting car.

Phaelan grabbed Snape's leg as they took off. He was thankful it wasn't higher or he would have been making some rather undignified noises. As it was, he detached her hands and wrapped his arm around her. Sometimes another's fright was pleasant compensation, for a willing companion.

"Vault 555," announced Crup, as they slowed and stopped, "Key please?"

Phaelan stepped out of the car and handed the key to the little man - she still didn't know exactly what he was.

The door opened to the vault and Phaelan stepped inside. A few small sacks sat on a shelf to the side which must have been her advance from the school.

"How much should I take?" she asked Snape.

"Are you a brazen shopper or do you have some restraint?" Snape asked, arching his brow.

"I only meant I don't know the value of your money or the cost of living so I can't make an informed decision," Phaelan snapped back.

"I suggest 50 galleons to start. If you need more, you can sign a debit to your account and the money will be transferred," advised Snape.

"Alright." Phaelan grabbed one of the sacks and tried to figure out how much was in it.

"Here." Snape grabbed 2 sacks. "I'll give you a lesson on currency later. Let's go, the goblins running this place give me indigestion."

They rode back to the main hall, where Phaelan signed for the permission to transfer funds between her two banks, and happily left the depressing structure behind.

Walking down the street was a sensory adventure. It was filled with noises, scents and wondrous creatures; sensations of magic happening all around her. Phaelan began to feel the energy build up inside again, much as it had at Hogwarts before she collapsed. It was beginning to weaken her.

She pulled on Snape's sleeve. "Severus, I need to sit. I'm thirsty and hot."

Snape looked at her, noticing her colour. Poppy had warned this might happen, when she was in the midst of so much magic.

"Come." He led her to Fortesques Ice cream parlour and sat at an outdoor table. "Raspberry soda for one," he ordered. It appeared almost immediately.

Pulling a phial from his pocket, he handed it to Phaelan. "Drink all of this and then the soda. You need the sugar."

She did as instructed and began to feel better right away. "Wow, that worked well."

"Yes, well don't get too used to it. It can be addictive," Snape warned. "Ready to move on?" he asked, while dropping a few coins on the table.

"Yes, "she replied, "where to first?"

"The book store, of course," he announced, leading the way.

"Of course." she echoed.

The shop brought about another onslaught of sensory overload. It made the shop where her interview was held, look like a hole in the wall.

"Is it safe to browse by myself?" Phaelan asked, remembering the growling book.

"Don't go near the dark arts or Magical creatures sections. The rest of the books are domesticated, mostly," he answered, in all seriousness.

Phaelan just looked at him and raised her eyebrows.

While wandering around the store to look for some decent text books for her class, she came across a section of books by Muggle authors. As a thought struck her, she was emboldened to approach a clerk.

"Excuse me, do you take special orders for books?" she enquired.

"Sometimes, Miss, if there is enough demand," the clerk replied, while eyeing her up and down.

"Say, if I were to order, oh, twenty or thirty books of one selection, would that be enough?" she enquired.

"Sounds like you're a teacher or something," laughed the young man.

"Yes, I am," she rejoined, tartly.

"I'm sure we could arrange something, Miss." he quietly answered, somewhat contritely.

"Thank you."

While she continued walking about, a familiar blue light crossed her line of vision in a blur. Frowning, she walked back, retracing her steps. Yes, there it was - a computer screen. Looking about her, Phaelan began to search for Snape. He had to see this. Where was he?

After searching every book stack in the store it seemed, she found him engrossed in a dark arts volume.

"There you are!" she announced, only to be shushed by the other shoppers. She walked into the aisle.

"Be careful, don't touch these books," he hissed.

"I've got to show you something." Phaelan grabbed his arm to try and drag him with her.

"What is it?" he snapped in annoyance, pulling his arm out of her grasp. One had to maintain the correct demeanour.

Looking around, Phaelan whispered, "I saw a computer in the office."

"Don't be daft, you silly woman, there are no computers in Diagon Alley," retorted Snape, annoyed to have his reading interrupted.

"I'll prove it," she stated.

"How are you...What are you doing?" demanded Snape, as Phaelan unbuttoned her shirt to reveal her generous bosom. Opening her bag, she pulled out two pony tail elastics and roughly pulled her hair up in bunches on either side of her head. A quick application of lipstick and, for the denouement, chewing gum hastily chewed to bubble blowing consistency. Walking to the front counter, she rang the small bell for attention.

"Helloooh, wheyah is he proprietah of this fine establishment?" she called, while leaning her ample bust over the counter, to show her wares.

"I am the one of the owners, Miss???" Mr. Flourish asked.

"Mamselle Royale, suh. I'm here visitin' mah second cousin twice removed? He's been sooooh kind ushering me around and the like. We got kinda separated and he told me to meet him heyah if I got lost."

"Perhaps I know your relative, Miss Royale. what is his n...." An incredulous Mr Flourish, was cut off in mid sentence by Phaelan's gasp

"Mr. Flourish, suh, I had no idea anyone would have one of those in Diagon Alley." Phaelan gave him a blinding smile and a clear view of her cleavage.

"I do believe you, suh, have a computer in youah office," she whispered, leaning forward to share her secret and accidentally lean her bosom on his arm. "Would you show it to me, as a personal favour like?" she gushed. "Please suh, I've nevah seen one close up befoah." She finished with a smile and batted her eyelashes again.

"Well, miss, the, ahem, item you speak of is the first of it's kind. I wouldn't want it to get out..." Mr Flourish began.

"I'm just a poor squib suh. I hope to go to business school, so's ahm not a burden to mah famly. I thought of takin' some computah courses, so's ah could work in a office for the Muggles?" whined Phaelan, with her most syrupy of tones.

"I just want to look at it suh, please?" she pleaded and worked her eyes again. "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers."

Looking around, Mr Flourish was beginning to cave in, "Alright, just for a moment; and it remains a secret. Be sure not to touch anything," he instructed, as he let her in.

"Thank you, suh." Phaelan gushed once more, as she followed the man behind the counter.

"Distract him," she mouthed to Snape, who was standing dumbfounded at her performance.

Once she was in the office, Snape walked over to where Flourish was standing and began to engage him in a conversation. Phaelan left the office within a few minutes, fortunately, as Snape was running out of inane banter to occupy Flourish's attention.

"Thank you kindly, suh, I'm ever so grateful." Phaelan flattered the owner.

Snape, surreptitiously, cast a brief Obliviate, to wipe the past few minutes from Mr. Flourish's mind and grabbed Phaelan to drag her from the store.

"Cover yourself up," he demanded as they rounded into the alley beside the store.

"Alright, Severus, don't have a fit." Phaelan was confused at his attitude. It wasn't the dominant Death Eater or the snide teacher before her. This was something else.

"What's wrong Severus?" Phaelan asked, as she straightened out her clothing.

"In case you haven't noticed, madam, the people in this part of London dress a little more conservatively. I don't want other m....I mean you surely don't want men look at you in such a disgusting fashion." Snape had stopped himself from making an embarrassing declaration.

Phaelan had noticed but she said nothing as he appeared perplexed himself at his almost choice of words.

"Better?" she asked as her attire was returned to normal.

Snape merely nodded, "Come, we should get you some robes for school and outerwear."

He took her right hand and placed it in the crook of his elbow, before leaving the side alley. They continued down the street towards Madam Malkins. Phaelan could see the giant store sign approaching. She also noticed the witches around her. The women, who were accompanied by men, all had their hands in the gentleman's elbow as they walked. There was an air of possessiveness about the males who were with the women. This merits some research time, Phaelan thought.

She was distracted as they reached the shop by Snape opening the door for her and bidding her enter first. Phaelan looked around at the gowns and robes on display. Some, obviously for everyday wear, were similar to Muggle clothing. The main difference was the choice of fabrics; all natural, nothing synthetic. She walked around further, until she came before a mannequin showing a dress of a shade of blue Phaelan could not name.

The style was a modified medieval ladies court gown. The hem was just to the ankle at the front for ease of walking but the back hem dipped into a short train barely touching the floor. The long sleeves were fitted and the wrist had a peak extending to the middle finger on each hand. Around the neck and hem, a border in gold was inscribed with symbols Phaelan could not decipher. The bodice was closely fitted and had a low waist, delineated by a girdle of gold chain, upon which a purse was strung. Phaelan doubted she had ever seen anything so beautiful.

"A lovely gown, is it not madam?" came a feminine voice at her back.

"Oh yes! Yes it is," exclaimed Phaelan, before she realized she had intended to say anything.

"They were once very popular among the educated witches, but now the young have a preference for Muggle fashion," said the woman, in a woeful tone.

"Good day, Madam Malkin," greeted Snape, as he approached the two women.

"Ah, professor," the lady replied, "here to order some new robes?" she inquired.

"For myself, no, but for my new colleague." he indicated Phaelan. "Miss Phaelan McKenzie."

"How do you do, Miss McKenzie. I'm afraid I don't recognize you but of course you are not from England." Madam Malkin raised her brows in an unspoken enquiry.

"Miss McKenzie is a Muggle from America. She will be teaching Muggle studies at the school in the new term," replied Snape coldly. "She requires teaching robes and decent outer robes, to wear in public."

Looking at Phaelan once more she turned and beckoned, "Come with me, miss, we have everything you need."

Phaelan looked back at Snape, suddenly, inexplicably, feeling a little hurt. Pushing back her reaction, she followed the woman to a fitting room to select the black teachers robes, 3 sets, and outer robes, 1 heavy, 1 light. Her purchases were wrapped and at the counter as she approached, ready to pay. The price exceeded her purse but, when she gave her account number at Gringotts, the funds were transferred without delay.

"I suppose we're finished?" asked Phaelan.

"Yes, unless you have somewhere to go in Muggle London,"

"I do actually, right on this street. Borders Book Store," Phaelan replied.

They made their exit to Charing Cross Rd. to pick up Phaelan's car and drive the short distance to Borders, at 120 Charing Cross Rd. Snape condescended to transfiguring his robes to a black trench coat again, so that he might follow her into the store.

As they drove, he watched Phaelan from the side of his eye. The time in Madam Malkins has left her unhappy he realized. In an out of character moment, he felt the need to explain himself.

"Phaelan, about the way I spoke in Malkins," he began. "I..."

"No, don't explain. I understand. It's all part of the ruse. You treat me like shit in public and I accept it," Phaelan interjected.

"No! Yes! Phaelan, do you really understand the threat you are under? You cannot walk around so brazenly Muggle in magical enclaves. You don't know who's waiting to kidnap you, or worse," Snape replied angrily, as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Phaelan thought for a moment, not wanting to give the trite answer that came to her lips. "I understand intellectually, I am threatened. The incident with Malfoy made that clear. I can't comprehend how much threat. You have not deigned to acquaint me with the 5 W's of my, would be, enemy. Who, what, where, when and why?" she finally replied, angrily.

"We're here," she announced, parkint her car. As she made to get out, Snape grasped her arm to stop her.

"We need to talk," Snape decided.

"Look Severus, this is metered parking. We can talk later." Again Phaelan turned to her door to exit only to be pulled roughly back.

"We will talk now," he commanded, through a clenched jaw, never once letting go of her arm.

"I think you are confusing our true reality with the subterfuge I have agreed to take part in, Professor Snape. You do not have leave to treat me as your property outside of that agreement. If you want my cooperation, stop treating me as a child. I want the information I am missing and that is final," Phaelan angrily responded, before removing her arm from his grasp.

Getting out of the car, Phaelan waited to see if he would follow. Inside the vehicle, Snape took a deep breath, opened the door and exited, slamming it behind him. Phaelan keyed the locking mechanism, angrily looking at her dark companion.

"You break, you pay," she snapped, before turning on her heel and heading into the store.

Snape quietly seethed. Keeping at least two paces between them; he followed her into the largest book store he had ever seen.

"I'll be checking out the History, Social studies, Civics and Sociology sections. I want to be alone while I'm here for at least an hour, do you understand?" she stated in a low but commanding tone.

She looked at him with a visage that would brook no disagreement. He looked at her with no expression crossing his face. Neither knew each had just beheld the other at their most dangerous. Snape nodded and made his way to the natural sciences area, only glancing briefly in her direction. They each became engrossed in the books before them. Rampant bibliophiles, they could likely have spent the entire day browsing and still not have tired of the task.

Looking at his watch, Snape found that slightly more than an hour had passed. Not too surprisingly, he had found three books worthy of his attention and he intended to purchase them. He was not the entire stranger to the Muggle world his companion might have thought. With a private smirk, he looked forward to seeing her reaction to how he paid for the books.

Phaelan walked out of the book stacks with a note book and half a dozen volumes in her shopping basket. She looked around and saw him standing at the rack of movie videos available to rent. She had wondered how he understood some of the idioms she had used and, now secretly thought he probably had a hobby of watching old Muggle movies. The idea caused her to snort and shake her head.

Snape turned and saw her standing looking at him. When Phaelan noticed he had seen her, she indicated towards the check outs with her chin. He nodded and walked in that direction. Snape entered the line-up in front of her, at which point she noted he had books in his hands. Raising her eyebrows, she thought, 'He'd better not think I'm picking up the tab for them.'

"That will be twenty four pounds forty sir. Are you interested in our book club?" asked the clerk.

"No thank you," replied Snape, as he smoothly pulled a Visa card from his wallet.

Phaelan was stunned. She gaped as he confidently signed his name on the receipt, like he had done it all his life. He gave a backward glance at her, with a snide smile on his face.

"No bag is required thank you, this will be all," he purred to the clerk, before gathering up his purchases and leaving the store.

Phaelan completed her transaction in a blur and followed him out the doors. He stood leaning against the car waiting for her. Phaelan unlocked the car doors. He opened the passenger side and slid in putting the books on the dash board while he fastened his seat belt.

Phaelan dropped her purchases on the back seat and got behind the wheel. Snape had put the books on his lap and opened the top one to read. They turned to look at each other; Phaelan with narrowed eyes, he with a self-satisfied grin. Waving the Visa receipt at her, Snape then placed it in the book like a bookmark. Starting the car, Phaelan looked away thinking to herself, 'What a self centred prick.'

The drive to her flat was uneventful again. They entered her living room to floo back to the school. Snape had changed his coat back into his usual robes.
"I need to check my e-mail before I leave." Phaelan advised. At his questioning look, she continued, "I have friends that communicate this way. They expect a reply. This is also the first contact I would receive of any change to my flight schedule."

Snape frowned, he'd almost forgotten her contract with the Navy Reserve she was required to fulfil.

"My next flying date is Saturday. I intend to go alone," she stated. At the look on his face, she reminded him, "The Headmaster agreed when I took the job, remember?" Phaelan smiled at the frown cast in her direction. It was so fun to piss him off.

Half an hour later, they had flooed back to the castle. Each went their separate ways, with their respective purchases, without further conversation. At dinner in the great hall, they studiously ignored each other. The atmosphere between them was noticed, but not commented on.

After an evening in her rooms, reading her new books, Phaelan spent a restless night having a dream she had experience before. In the dungeons below, Snape had spent his evening in exactly the same way, retiring to his hand carved Sleigh bed. When he closed his eyes, a vision of Phaelan danced before him, dressed as she was in Flourish and Blots earlier that day.

Who was this daemon who bedevilled his thoughts? He was totally undone by her; one minute a serious scholar the next the actress. Which one was she? He tossed rubbing his eyes muttering "Go Away!" to his vision before falling into a fitful sleep.

Trelawney might have described their experience as lucent dreaming. Each of the parties was haunted by the dream. While they would not admit it, they had experienced the dream whenever they had encountered a conflict between them. So it was, Phaelan and Severus had the dream again; this time slightly changed.

'A figure; dark, just far enough away that one couldn't make out any features but closer than before, with their arm reaching out. Then a familiar voice 'I am waiting, for the part of me that is missing. We are of a kind. How great is the payment you seek? When will you barter?' The figure began to walk forward, almost recognizable, only to leave as the dreamers shouted themselves awake.

"Wait!" He woke trembling and perspiring. It was more than just a dream. Snape tried to make sense of what he had experienced, and he knew now he needed to speak to Trelawney. Running his hands through his hair he turned and looked at the clock. It was still early, but he knew he would get no further sleep. He decided to rise and take a shower.

Phaelan awoke weeping, with her arm outstretched to the dream figure. "Wait, don't leave me." She sat up and hugged her knees to her chest. She knew something profound was happening. The dream had changed subtlety, but in such a manner she had thought she knew who it was appearing before her.

Looking at the clock, Phaelan knew she would not get any more sleep. It was too early for breakfast so she decided on a long bath. Rising, she started to fill the tub. Lifting the soap to inhale the delicate fragrance, Phaelan wondered at the man who could create such beauty yet be so dangerous.

Phaelan had taken breakfast early and went to run around the Quidditch pitch; mostly to work off her frustration. Snape had come in for breakfast after she had left. He had started some potions earlier, which he had to sit for a while. He decided to take a walk about inside the castle, as the sun was very bright this morning.

Returning from the pitch after a satisfying run, Phaelan wiped her face with a towel. She entered the hallway, just as Snape was passing on his way to seek his favourite tower. He looked at her and offered one of his best Potions Masters scowls.

"I see we are still not wearing proper robes, Ms McKenzie. What will it take to make you stop flaunting yourself so?" he sarcastically drawled.

Phaelan narrowed her eyes and offered him a small smile thick with irony.

"Professor, I believe we have something to talk about today. You have information to share with me, which I require for my security and my special classes." She waited, as he paused at the stairs.

"Madam, I will share the information with you I deem to be necessary. Not one datum more. Moreover, I will decide the time and place at my convenience. You will make yourself available." He turned away from her and began to ascend the stairs.

"You seem to have forgotten the conversation we had yesterday, Snape. I am not at your beck and call in this castle or on Muggle territory. You can bloody well make time today, or I will make it my business to get in your face at every turn. I am not going to lay my ass, or any other part of my anatomy, on the line on your say so. I need the intell and you're going to give it." She was yelling at him, as they both climbed the stairs to the upper corridors.

"For gods sakes, woman, why should I give away information to you that could implicate me and others within the Order. Look at you. You don't have the decency to at least dress the part of a woman in your position. You have no inkling of how you appear in our society. You talk to all men as if they were your peers. You are a target waiting to be hit. The Dark Lord could tap into your mind and extract the information from it, as easily as peeling away the layers of an onion." He snorted at the last. "Trust a Muggle to keep secrets from a Death eater; what foolishness."

Turning, he walked away from her again. He truly did not want her to be a weak thread in the Order, or be thought of badly in the general Wizarding world. Hopefully his sarky self could make her see he was right.

Momentarily stunned, Phaelan stared at his retreating back. No one had ever spoken down to her in such a way, since she had become an officer, and this was not the time to start.

"Snape, you son of a bitch, come back here and argue like a man," she began, following him again, baiting him into a confrontation.

"I think you're just afraid you'll be bested by a woman, a Muggle at that. What are you afraid of; that I'll come up with a totally non-magical way to take out a wizard?" Phaelan was under full steam now, practically jogging in her efforts to pass him. She smiled at his thunderous expression.

"Why don't we spar; just you and I? You know, you send a curse at me and I try to castrate you with my little knife, just for fun." she goaded.

"Shut your mouth woman, if you know what's good for you," warned Snape.

Far below in the courtyard, Filch and Hagrid were talking over the upkeep of the grounds, in relation to the animals in and around the castle. They heard the shouting from the tower.

"What's going on up there?" wondered Filch, holding his hand over his eyes while looking up.

"Sounds like our Potions master and the newest Perfessr, are havin' an argy bargy" answered Hagrid.

"A lover's quarrel, ye think?" asked Filch, in a sardonic voice.

"I don't have a clue mate. He's never had an affair afore, as I remembers," Hagrid replied as he watched the tower.

Snape's cheeks were becoming redder by the moment; his breathing faster as his temper rose higher than it had in years. He stopped, as they had reached the tower. Phaelan walked around in front of him.

"Oh, did I touch a nerve, Severus." she crooned sweetly, "Maybe your Dark Lord has already done the dirty deed and you really don't have the balls any more." she sneered as she sat on the open parapet of the tower.

"Enough!" Snape roared as he drew his wand on her.

Suddenly, blue light shot out the end of the wand and hit the wall where she sat. The ancient stone crumbled beneath her and before she could react, Phaelan found her self plunging backwards towards the ground below...

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