Chapter 9
As the days get colder and that time of the season also finally comes to a close to arriving, the bustling of the students down below the castle becomes loud as they buy gifts for their family or spend time with friends before going home for their winter break, the old witch took off her eyes in the window and look around the warm office that kept Fawkes cozy in his sleep, phoenix birds don’t like the cold very well. Oh, how much the transfiguration professor wishes she was also in her quarters reading a book and being ready for the holidays.
“May I ask what you plan to do with Miss Snape’s situation?” She asked as she turns to look at the old man sitting at his desk.
“I don’t know what you mean, Minerva.” Not bothering to look up at her as he continues looking at his paperwork.
“Oh, come now, the girl has been through physical abuse by her father, she needs therapy, and a new family that will love her, she is still a minor you know. If I am going, to be honest really, I’d say that I’m quite glad that her father is dead, but I wish we could’ve at least bought Miss Snape and her mother justice.”
“I have talked with Miss Snape about that matter, and she wants to continue living alone.” Albus took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes, and sighed, he wanted to help Miss Snape as well.
“Albus! You can’t mean that.”
“I do, it is what I can only do for Miss Snape, but I have given her a choice of staying here at Hogwarts during the summer or at her friend’s house, and as for therapy, do you suppose that she will agree to even attend to them? I believe that she refuses to be seen as someone weak.
“Then what do you propose we do?”
“Nothing for now, we will leave it to Mister Potter and Miss Evans and see what happens.” He stood up and walked to the window where McGonagall stood before and peered as well at the students below.
“Did you put them up with your schemes?”
“I did not. I am merely observing my students. “He replied as the snow started to fall from the sky.
“Hey, guys.” James greeted them with a smile as he enters the room, holding a letter in one hand.
“I got a letter from mum this morning, said she was going to have a formal Christmas party, and that I should invite some friends,” James announced, holding the letter in the air.
Sirius groans, “ I would refuse because I hate formal gatherings, but I just remembered I live with you.”
Remus in return just shrugged, “I can come, when is it?”
“At the 23rd“
“As long as there is food, I’m good,” Peter replies
“Good then, I’ll see you guys later.” Just as James was about to leave, Sirius stops him.
“Where are you going? You just got here, come sit with us and play.” Sirius asked looking up from the exploding snaps that he was playing with Peter.
James paused at the doorway to look at him, “I can’t, I’m going to see Snape.”
The Marauders looked at each other.
“Look Prongs I know I said that it was impossible for you to like Snape, But I am starting to doubt my words as well.”
“You know I’m beginning to think so as well, but I just need to be so sure about this before I decided on anything else, and when that time comes, I hope you guys would be there for me.” James smiled nervously and left, leaving them no room to reply, too scared to know their answers.
Sirius sighed and the werewolf glances at him, “well? What say you Padfoot? I know I’ll be, and Peter will most likely just go along with it as well.”
Sirius rubbed his eyes with his fingers, “Of course I will, he’s my best friend, but it will be hard for me if he did like Snape, But I’ll do it, just like a good friend would.” They sat there silently for a while before…
“You guys want a make a bet on how long till he figures it out?” Peter asked trying to lighten the mood.
“How much are we betting on?” Sirius asked.
“How bout 10 galleons plus a fire whisky bottle.”
“I’d say about just a few days,” Remus said, getting back to his book.
“Merlin, I hope it still would take him weeks or months.” Sirius groaned.
“I’d say just a few hours from now,” Peter said getting back to their game.
Severina looks out at the window to see the happy faces of the students who are eager to see their families once again, she thinks of her mother who won’t be there waiting at the station to come and get her tomorrow.
Life was unfair after all, it just had to take her mother first rather than her father, if Tobias had died first, maybe she could’ve spent her first Christmas with her mother, without being afraid, they could’ve decorated the house and she would make her mother a potion or perhaps knit her a scarf as a gift.
“Two butter beers!” shouted someone. She deflected her eyes from the window and try not to think of the past and possibilities as Lily sits in front of her and hands Severina her butter beer.
“Thank you,” Severina whispered as she takes a sip from her drink. Their bond wasn’t there yet like it was in the beginning, but it was slowly mending.
“Are you sure, you should be spending your weekend with me and not with your friends?”
“Of course, I am, you’re my best friend, you’re my priority and I missed spending my time with you, I want to make up for all the times we’ve missed and me not being able to be with you.” Severina just hummed in response.
“So, what are your plans for this break?” Lily asked eagerly.
“I’ll be staying here and studying for our Newts,” Severina replied casually as she put her glass down.
“What!? It's our winter break, you can’t just spend it on studying, that’s still far anyway, we’re only in the sixth year you know.”
“I can and I will, Lily. I want all O’s so I can apply for apprenticeship faster and get my master's.”
“How do you plan on getting a sponsorship anyway?”
“I have some saved-up money, but I don’t think it is enough yet, so I was planning to get a job this summer and spend less for myself.”
“oh Severina, I know I asked but please stop worrying too much I know it will work out just fine, so why don’t you spend the holidays at my house.”
“Lily, I told you I can’t.”
“Pretty please,” Lily pouted, “I promise we’ll also study for the Newts.”
“And how can you say that everything will work out?”
“Oh, just a hunch.” Lily smiled sweetly.
“What’re yo…”
“Hey, there girls.” Potter greeted them as he stood at the side of their table.
“Potter” greeted both girls.
“What do you want?”
“Harsh and cold as ever Snape.”
“Yeah, what do you want? This is a girl’s day out for us, beat it, Potter.” Lily in return glares at him.
“Ok, ok I’ll scram after asking you guys some questions.”
“What is it?” Severina questions in an annoyed tone.
“Do you guys have plans for the 23rd? My Parents will be hosting a formal Christmas party and I want you guys to come.”
“A party!” Lily lighted up, “Sure, we’ll g…’
“Rejected.” Snape declines with a straight face as she takes a drink again.
Lily turned her head towards Severina in shock, “Why?”
“What do you mean why? I’m not stopping you from going, but I am not attending some social gathering full of nobles when I know nothing of their proper etiquette and even if I did, I would still not attend it. I have to study remember.” Severina gives Lily a look and Evans in return groans again.
Potter gives her a frown, “Just think and talk about it, ok, I’ll leave you two girls now.”
“Severina!”
“No!”.