-24-
The holidays went quickly by. Even I have been having so much fun with my aunt and her husband, I'm glad to leave the Muggle World the next morning. My luggage and bags are being packed, ready for tomorrow. It's pretty late in the evening as I walk in empty kitchen. Decided to make some snack beforehand for the train trip. A sandwich and some fruits would be nice. For the sandwich, I start cutting a cucumber. As I'm cutting the vegetable, my mind starts to wonder. It goes from the moment I saw Edward and his family, to the moment how I left the castle and saw Hagrid waving at me from far.Wonder how Snape's Christmas went? Was he lonely..? Did he has anyone to spend it with? The thought him being all alone makes me sad. Unless, he has a girlfriend? Just then, I accidentally cut my finger:"Ah..-!". Right in that second, Ruby enters the kitchen:"What in the name of Merlin's beard are you doing, child?!".
Before I can say anything, she rushes to take a look at the finger:"Let me see...". The cut isn't that bad, but sure hurts like hell. "It's fine, aunt. Really." I try to reassure, but she goes to get the aid-kit. After she comes back with the kit and starts cleaning the cut. It stings a bit. "I can do it by myself. I'm adult, remember?" I chuckle. "Not to me." Ruby is so focused on putting the band-aid, she doesn't see how I stare at her. There is sadness in my eyes. It feels so unfair they never got children of their own, since my mother put a poison in her drink that prevents getting pregnant, after she heard they were trying to have a baby. Unfortunately, Ruby was pregnant at the time she took the poison and well... They would have been great parents. "There! All good." Ruby smiles after she gets the band-aid on its place. Looking at the light brown band-aid around my finger:"Thank you.". She turns to the cutting board:"No problem, sweetheart. Perhaps it's better if I..-", "No, I mean; Thank you, Ruby. For everything you and William have done for me." I insist.
For a moment, she looks at me confused. "Did the knife get thru your brain as well?" she asks. "Aunt!" ordering her to be serious for one moment. Her face goes more serious as she is staring back at me. Almost like she's holding the tears:"Of course, my love. Anything for you.". Ruby... Thudding my body against hers to give her a hug. We hold each other there quite sometime in silence. All the memories flashing us by. Wish I could make her see how awesome she is. Ruby gently pushes me away, but keeps her hands on the side of my arms:"Come now... Go to your bed. You have an early morning.". Clearly she's trying to hide the tears. Warm smile raises on my face:"Good night, aunt-Ruby.". "Good night, dear." she nods and goes back to the cutting board. Not all Slytherins are bad. There is at least one good soul I know.
The next morning, aunt drove me to the train station. There are people walking and running to catch their train. "Are you sure you got everything?" Ruby asks while walking beside me. She insisted to come and see how I'll walk thru the wall which leads to the Hogwarts Express. "For the eighth time; yes. I got everything I need." I roll my eyes. "Are you sure? You do have the tendency to forget things easily..-", "I'm fine!" quickly I stop walking and turn to her. She stops immediately too and sees how irritated I am by the constant nagging. She looks troubled:"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I just...", "I know. I know..." my voice is more gentle. We share a shy smile and continue walking in silence for a moment. Can see further away how there are some students already running thru the wall and disappearing to the other side of it. "Ruby..." I start. "Yes, dear?" her eyes quickly visits on me, then back where we are heading.
Then I ask the question that has bothered me ever since I got here:"How did Edward's daughter got her name?". "I was began to worry if you were going to ever ask that or not..." she chuckles. Then I stop walking again, turn to her and wait her to tell me. She stops too, but won't turn to me:"To be honest, I'm not completely sure. I just talk about you so often, guessing that's where he and Emma got the idea.". Edward and Emma. They even sound perfect. I don't have any romantic feelings towards him anymore, but... Plaintive might be the better description how I feel when it comes to him. After walking some time, we come near to the brick wall and share the hug of goodbyes. "What if I won't let you go?" Ruby jokes while tightening the hug. "I believe Dumbledore would send someone to get me." I laugh.
She then leans away and scans my face with her eyes. "Do be careful out there. For your next holiday, I'd like to have you in one piece..." her eyes goes to my finger. "Oh, don't worry about it. I'm sure there is a potion of some sort to cure it." I chuckle and look at the band-aid. There is a gentle smile on her face:"Sometimes, it's better to let the time heal.". My eyes lifts to meet hers and we share a smile. Soon enough, I got in the train with all of the bags and luggage. Hogwarts, here I come!
Right after I got back to the castle, I put all of my clothes and presents I got for Christmas to their places around the chamber and collapse onto the bed:"Merlin, I'm tired!". Sniffy seems to be happy too, to be in a lot more familiar environment where he can walk free. I stare at the ceiling for a moment. After coming back to the castle and settled in, somehow I feel like I can breath again. The thought of leaving here anytime soon, makes me sad. Even I haven't been in Hogwarts too long, this whole place has started to feel like home. More than I was a kid. Quickly, I shake off the melancholy feeling and raise myself to sit. Sniffy jumps on my lap and starts proudly showing me all of the things he stole from my aunt's place. "Of course you did..." I roll my eyes. Can already hear Ruby sending a Howler this way...
Later that day, I head to the Great Hall for dinner. There are some students greeting and walking right past me. "Professor (Y/L)!" familiar voice calls further away. I stop walking and turn around to see who it is. Big smile raises on my face when I see the boy rushing to me:"Neville! How nice to see you.". He comes up to me, looking so excited, but not because of me. Raising an eyebrow at him:"Well?". "...I asked Luna out." he lets out sharp exhale. My eyes widens out of surprise and I hold onto his arm. "Really?! That is amazing..! I'm so proud of you!" I whisper giggle. Neville gets all red from his face and ears. It feels like over these months, Neville and I have become some sort of 'big sister and little brother' - type of duo. Guessing it also got something to do with being the youngest professor of this school makes me more approachable for the students?
There are few students walking by as me and Neville are talking how our holidays went. After talking for a while - all of sudden, his eyes goes right past me and his smile drops immediately. Huh? There is fear written all over his face. Curiosity gets the best of me and I turn around to see. It's Snape - standing seven meters away, having his eyes on us. My heart skips a beat for some reason. "H-hi!" I wave at him with awkward smile. Realizing I just sounded way too cheerful. Merlin, what's wrong with me?! Neville starts panicking as he watches the dungeon bat coming towards us. Really don't know why is he so afraid of Snape. Sure, he can sometimes be scary, but... Maybe I have become immune his death stares? Who knows. Right when Snape comes to us, he glares at Neville for uncomfortably long time.
I'm just standing between them, wondering if any of them is going to say something. "...I..- Uh..-" the poor boy can't get words out of his mouth and just leaves. That's it?! Both of us stares as Neville disappears around the corner. Wonder if they just had telepathic conversation or something? Is that even possible? Then the Potions Master's eyes goes back to me. "You have arrived." he says with the monotonic tone with the usual expressionless face. I turn to face him with bright smile:"Ah, yes indeed I have. Missed me?". Immediately regretting for throwing that joke in there. Snape only rolls his eyes and starts walking towards the Great Hall, so I go after him.
We walk up to the High Table in silence and go sit in our seats. There aren't as many students here since it's pretty late. Most of them have already ate and went to their Common Rooms. As I'm gathering some food on my plate, Snape's black eyes quickly visits on my hand, then back to his plate:"Not even a day in the Wizarding World, and you have already got yourself patched up.". Realizing he means the band-aid around my finger. "Oh, no... No, I got this yesterday when I was cutting some vegetables." I explain. "I might have the right potion to cure the wound." he suggests just before putting some food in his mouth. I look down at the band-aid for a moment before answering:"Thank you, but I think I'll let the time heal it.".
There is gentle smile on my face while remembering aunt-Ruby's words. "Very well. Don't come crying when it gets infected." he says with the monotonic tone. My head snaps right at him:"Infected?!". "(Y/N) (Y/L)!" familiar voice echoes all over the other side of the Great Hall. Everyone in the room turns to look how Umbridge is standing beside the big doors, looking straight at me. Huh? With tiny, fast steps she starts heading here. Right after I get up from my seat, Snape raises too. The sound of her high heels keeps echoing over the Great Hall by every step she takes. I come meet her almost the half way of the aisle:"Is everything alright, Profes..-", "Pack your bags, Miss (Y/L). You are heading back home. Tonight." she orders. What?!