“Professor Snape will take you to Maggie’s room,” said the older woman, pushing her chair back. “I must be away, but the Professor has promised to see to you.” Genera nodded mutely as the woman placed a gentling hand on her arm. “We really were all saddened, to lose her,” she added, the heat from her hand seeping through Genera’s sleeve. “Maggie was a delightful girl and dedicated student.”

It’d been so long since she’d just slept, deep and dreamlessly, so long since she’d let her body rest and relax. She didn’t want to open her eyes, didn’t want to sit up and face the world. There were things she had to do, though at the moment they seemed far off and kind of unimportant.

“You laugh just like your sister,” said Professor Snape.

“I’ve ordered a carriage,” he said. Genera nodded.
“All the boxes ready?”
“Yes, Dizzy’s already sent them to the train.”
Genera pressed her face between his shoulder blades.
“When does it leave?”
“Soon, little over an hour.”
Genera sighed then, her hands clasped around Severus’s middle