Sookie looked at her portrait. Her friends had written all over it. Messages of goodbye, telling her to show those Hogwarts boys what the South taught her. She couldn't help but smile at all her friends. There were all her girls: Bluze, Aubergine, and Arithmatica, giving a kind parting word. And Rizzo, her best friend… she was taking this so hard. Sookie hard already sworn to text her every day, telling her how things were going.

But staring at this photograph, a black-and-white taken by Rizzo herself, the only words she saw were "Sookie Snape: Savannah Academy Farewell." Sookie was heartbroken at the thought of having to leave The Academy and enter the War that was raging in England, but Voldemort had her in his service. There was nothing she could do.

Sookie stood by the front gates of The Academy with her pals. Emmoch, Frankie, Dillaran, and Lucien showed up, with Roseamunde, Eloise, and Ramone in tow.

"We just wanted to say our goodbyes," explained Dillaran.

"Yeah, and we were hoping we could sign your portrait," the shy Ramone spoke.

"If there's room, that is…" squeaked Eloise.

Sookie laughed. "Sure, why not?"

Her picture was passed around, and everyone whipped out a pen. Roseamunde spoke.

"We just wanted you to know that we really always liked you, even though we didn't hang out all that much."

Sookie smiled again. "No, it's fine. I've always liked y'all, too," she said in her slow, Southern drawl.

Everyone stopped as a long black limousine pulled up. Emmoch handed Sookie's picture back to her, and a tall man with dark hair came around from the other side.

"Hello, angel," said Severus Snape.

"Hey, daddy!"

A little gasp ran through the congregation.

"Aw, shut up, guys," Sookie smiled at her friends.

"Say your goodbyes, my dear. Our flight is quite soon." Snape took his daughter's luggage.

"Well… this is it."

Ten pairs of arms were flung around her all at once. Tears streamed down Rizzo's cheeks. Sookie whispered to her, "Now, Riz, don't cry. You know you can't go where I'm going. It's too much."

Rizzo nodded and tried to smile. Sookie laughed out loud at the feeble attempt. Emmoch, Frankie, Dillaran, and Lucien kissed Sookie on the cheek, and they waved goodbye as they pulled out of the parking lot.

"Well," said Ramone, "that beats getting a poke in the eye with a sharp stick."

Everyone laughed, and Frankie held Rizzo close as they made their way back into the beautiful stone building.

Sookie looked out the window of the plane, trying to focus on not crying.

"You're so brave," her father said.

"I know," Sookie whispered.

"Your mother would be so proud of you. How unfortunate she is not here to see it."

This enraged Sookie. "Yeah, she would be. Dunno why she isn't here. Oh, wait, I do! Voldemort killed her. Murdered her. Splattered her blood all over my freaking CRIB! And yet, for some reason, I am uprooting my entire existence to go fight with this man against some crazy boy."

"Yes, that's true. It takes a lot of power, and you have it," Snape tried to calm her down.

"All I got was her last touch," Sookie mumbled.

"And that is what makes your power special, my dear."