A/N: This is done for my own personal enjoyment and nothing more. If you don't like it, that's alright by me as I'm writting it for fun. It takes place during Harry's 7th year, but does not follow the books at all. Anything you recognize is JK Rowling's, although Ava and Katherine belong to me... Muwahahaha... Enjoy! Also, as I've reread it, the first couple chapters are kind of slow, but it's getting better as it goes... Just my personal opinion though.
It was a normal summer morning for the beginning of August. Ava turned over in her bed roughly, causing a loud flopping sound to emit. The slightest hint of sunlight was peeking through her curtains which had been shut tightly the previous night, and a pale hand reached up and pulled a dark strand of hair out of her face. Emerald color eyes peeked through as she attempted to rub them into looking awake. "Ava!" Her mother's voice barely made it up the stairs, but it was enough to encourage her into climbing out of bed.
Traipsing down the wooden stairs, Ava's dark hair hung well past her shoulders, covering what her tank top didn't. A large, black owl was perched on the kitchen table with a couple pieces of parchment tied around its leg. It was enough to wake Ava up completely and she dove at the owl, causing it to ruffle his feathers at her and let out a clearly annoyed hoot. Untying the parchment quickly, the owl immediately departed as soon as Ava freed it from its delivery. The first parchment informed her of her school supplies that she would require for the following year, which she immediately threw on the table without giving it a second glance. It would ruin the surprise.
Smoothing out the second sheet on the table, Ava closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her entire summer had been filled with anticipation for this exact moment. It was her seventh year and she had applied for the potions apprenticeship the Hogwarts offered. It was available in all subjects, but extremely difficult to acquire. One had to have top marks in the class, every year, as well as an 'O' on their OWLS. Ava had achieved both of these things, surprising even herself. Potions had always been her passion and she had already looked at spaces in Hogsmeade, hoping to open up an apothecary upon graduating. Severus Snape, potions master at Hogwarts, was not the kind of man to give away the opportunity to just anyone, and never gave it to anyone that wasn't in his house. Once again, Ava had another thing going for her. For whatever reason the stars held, Ava had been placed into Slytherin. She was the only one out of a long line Gryffindors, and Snape seemed to enjoy reminding her of that fact at every chance he had. Trembling hands reached for the parchment as Ava opened her eyes again. While she wanted to read the last line, she refrained from doing so and forced herself to read the letter in its entirety.
Dear Ava Coombs,
This letter is to inform you of the outcome of your application into the Potion Apprenticeship. You can imagine I received numerous applications, such as yours, and was forced to make a very difficult decision. However, I am pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into the apprenticeship. This is, of course, a temporary position only. Should your work begin to falter, or I am unsatisfied with your progress, you will be removed for the position immediately and it will be refilled. I do not take this position lightly, and neither should you.
Please read the enclosed parchment, where you will find all necessary items for the upcoming year. Some of these items can not be found in the kits, so take note and make sure you have everything that you will need. This class will begin on the first day of term and continue until the end of the year, provided you continue to show interest. Please make note that while I have put aside scheduled times for one on one research, you will have to be able to arrange your schedule accordingly. Some potions
may need to be tended to at various times throughout the day, and I expect this will be done without question. I look forward to seeing you first day of term.
Sincerely,
Professor Severus Snape
Potions Master
Slytherin Head of House
The parchment fell on the table and Ava immediately let out a shriek that only a seventeen year old girl could make when thoroughly excited. Both parents came running in and her mother immediately embraced her, while her father picked up the parchment and read it over, a proud smile creeping onto his face.
"Wonderful," he said, grinning from ear to ear. Ava returned the smile and her mother released her. "I'm sending out a few owls right now. I can't believe you made it in Ava! I'm so proud..." His voice faded away as he took off towards the library. Ava's mother smiled warmly at her and handed her the parchments.
"Well," she said with a sigh, her eyes glistening as she took Ava in. "I was going to take you off to Diagon Alley myself, but Angela and I were talking and we think you and Katherine should go yourselves. You're both of age now and….well… It's time you two acted like it. You get ready and I'll send an owl down the street and see what they're up to." Ava grabbed her mother and hugged her tightly before bounding up the stairs. Katherine, or as she preferred to be called: Kat, had been her closest friend since she could remember. They were the only two wizarding families in the area and their parents had gone through Hogwarts together. Although Kat had been sorted into Ravenclaw, Ava had always made an effort to maintain their friendship.
After a quick stint in the shower, Ava stood in her room and stared at her closet. After a few minutes of deliberation, she pulled on a black t-shirt and some jeans. Always being a stickler for the grungy look, the jeans had been ripped to shreds by means of her wand. They were, in fact, her favorite. Black tennis shoes were pulled on afterwards, and her hair was flattened out quickly. Heavy on the black eyeliner, Ava smiled in the mirror as she finished up. Grabbing her black bag of her bed, she ran down the stairs and back into the kitchen.
"Is she coming?" she asked her mom, who was standing at the counter.
"Yes, dear. Angela owled back. She said to head on down when you're ready," he mother smiled and pulled a black pouch out of her pocket. Looking around quickly, to make sure her husband wasn't around; she pushed the bag into Ava's hands. "Take this dear, but don't tell your father. You know how he is…. But buy something nice for yourself. Something that's not for school…" Ava smiled and wrapped her arms around her mother's neck.
"Thanks Mum," she said quietly. With a quick kiss on the cheek, Ava turned around and shouted out her goodbyes as she ran out the door.
The houses were only a few apart, and by the time Ava got halfway down, Kat was coming out the front door. The two could not have been a more unlikely pair, based on appearances alone. Kat's long, curly blonde hair shone brightly against her tanned skin. Blue eyes lightened up her face, and she was the epitome of a 'fashionista'. Perfect clothes, perfect hair; she was like a walking Barbie doll. Ava smiled, taking a quick glance down at her punky appearance and smiled. Despite everything, they were still friends and because of that, Ava knew they always would be.
"What's up, you little hussy?" Ava joked, pulling Kat in for a hug, but not before eyeing her ridiculously short skirt.
"Not much, you dirty brat," Kat replied, as she returned the embrace. No one made fun of their differences like they did themselves. Deep down though, they were almost the same person. Appearances could be deceiving, and they had chosen to express their insecurities in very different ways. Kat tried to hide them, while Ava tried to act like she didn't care. It worked.
"Got my potions apprenticeship… Can you believe we're in our seventh year?" Ava asked, pulling away and beginning to walk. Before Ava could even protest the look on Kat's face, as she knew what she was thinking, Kat was off and running.
"Oh my…. I am so shocked…. I told you, Ava. He so wants to have a go at you," a devious grin spread across her face as she let out a giggle. It had been a long running joke since the two of them began at Hogwarts, but mostly since Ava had been placed in Slytherin. It didn't bother her anymore, and Ava actually found it quite amusing at this point. In fact, on more than one occasion, Ava had blatantly flirted with the professor, just to get a rise out of Kat.
"Shove off," Ava said, rolling her eyes. "You're just saying that because you really have a secret crush on him. You're obviously jealous."
"Riiight… I'm totally jealous that greasy, nasty Snape has a crush on you… You lucky bitch."
"I knew it."