Chapter 1: Some Request
The pale green curtains were open in her room, the last remnants of the setting sun spilled over the sill and into the room. The girl was laying on the floor close to the window as she soaked up the sun whilst reading one of the many books that were kept on the shelf. She curled her toes in the emerald carpet, the request to make it as long as possible was a good one. It was somewhat like shag.
The fire cracked languidly on the hearth as it was beginning to fade, like the sun devouring the last bits of matter it had been able to find. Atop swung a brass cauldron and inside that was her most recent project, bare bones for a sleeping draught. The sun continued to creep along the floor and quickly down the page of her book. That was probably the worst part about the Isle of Skye; summer was short and fleeting and towards the end, when the days were as hot as the nights cold the thunderstorms began to brew.
The faded parchment was getting hard to read. She flipped over and ran her hands along the carpet in search of her wand which she then pointed to one of her lamps and it roared to life, well, as much as a lamp could roar.
Her heart wasn't really in it anymore as she skimmed the book; it was another potions tome, old one. Her grandmother had sent it to her as a seventeenth birthday gift months ago, apparently the woman knew more about her than she thought. She sighed, rolled over and took a look at her book shelf. "I've really got to consider going to the Ministry to take my N.E.W.T Tests."
She sighed again and put her hands behind her head, wand included. Her roof was stone, but covered in posters of bands, Quiddich team's etcetera; everything that a young witch would have in their room. The wall even sported a house banner, a reminder of her brief stint at Hogwarts. The great snake taunted her, its red eyes watching her from the corner of her room. Sometimes she thought about burning it and saying that a spell had gone awry, but that would just prompt them to buy her more Slytherin memorabilia.
She heard something from downstairs, but it was drowned out by a pop from the fire. "Isabelle dear, come down stairs, there's an owl here for you. It's from Hogwarts." Her mother had called in a thick Scottish accent.
It took her a moment to respond she wasn't really listening, her mother had to call again. Why did Hogwarts want her, she sent a formal letter into the school saying she wouldn't be attending this year and that she would be taking her N.E.W.T's at the Ministry
"Coming Mum!" She called back as she drew her wand, it was a beautiful Yew piece, stained black aside from where the Celtic knots had been carved. She tapped her book and it whizzed back into its place on her shelf. Being tidy is easy when magic does it for you.
Skidding out of her room and around the corner, she ran down the spiral staircase that acted as the only entrance and exit to her tower which acted as a bedroom. Really, she had an entire floor to herself and she loved it. Here, she could read in her little library, relax in her room, try on clothes in one of her multiple wardrobes, as well as brew potion after potion at her crafts table, which was frequently restocked with everything a young potion's student's heart could possibly desire.
When she finally reached the floor that her mother was on, the main floor, she was slightly annoyed she had to leave her book to hear about a school she had absolutely no intention of returning to. Her mother however was beaming.
Bunches of curly red hair which Isabelle so envied framed her beautiful heart shaped face and bringing out the striking green eyes they shared. "Mum!" Isabelle laughed when she saw her, "What's all this about Hogwarts? You and Da' both know I don't want to go back there." Isabelle said, putting on her best puppy dog face. "You promised I would only have to go there for one semester while you and Da' where on holiday!"
Her mother looked at her sympathetically
"I know Love, we did give our word."
Isabelle sighed with relief. "Right then, can you send it back? Tell them they made a mistake and I won't be coming back this year?"
Her mother shook her head, causing the curls about them to dance merrily. Her mother extended her arm with the envelope in it.
"No, I'm afraid you're going to have to go back. Here read."
Isabelle took the letter from her mother. It was stamped with a dark green heavily scented wax, each and every word adding more dislike to the new Headmaster, Severus Snape.
By Order of Headmaster Snape and the Ministry of Magic. All magically gifted youths between the ages of Eleven to Eighteen shall henceforth be required to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at the start of the new term. A list of required school supplies has been included with this letter. You must arrive via Hogwarts express and be sorted into a house. Failure to do so will result in penalty.
Regards,
Headmaster Severus Snape
"Some request." Mused Isabelle. "More like an order to me."
Her mother raised her brow.
"Not that I'm speaking out against my future Headmaster. It just seems exceptionally forceful for a school sanctioned letter." Rolling her shoulders slightly to relax she continued her train of thought in a new and more desirable direction, "Either way! I suppose I'll be packing my things again."
She tried to smile at her mother, who beamed back at her "There's the spirit Love! Look on the bright side."
"Which is?"
"You get to go see Draco! You two hardly see each other anymore. It's simply horrible. You two were so close when you were children."
Whatever semblance of a smile Isabelle's face had been able to muster up vanished at his name. "Right… Mum, can you ask Lottie to come up to my room; I need her help packing for school."
"Of course Isabelle, and do try not to look so glum. And for goodness sake, call her Charlotte, she's a squib and a servant, not a friend."
Isabelle forced another smile; something she had become increasingly good at over the years. She turned on her heel to go back to her room and managed to reach it just in time to collapse onto her bed and erupt into tears of frustration.
Draco Malfoy was the last person she ever wanted to see again.
