It was late September in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the staff and students were currently enjoying dinner in the Great Hall. Suddenly the giant doors opened and all eyes turned to the young girl in the doorway. She was dressed in a long black wool cloak that was clasped around her shoulders with a silver leaf broach. Her emerald green dress made of satin hugged the curves of her upper body and flared at the hips ending just before the floor. She had long raven black hair that descended to the middle of her back. Her skin was pale but did not look sickly in fact it glowed like the moon. Her bright blue eyes stood out beneath her perfectly arched eyebrows. Her dainty nose gracefully swooped down to her full pink lips that were upturned in a small smile.
As if given a silent cue she began walking down the center aisle between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. Her cloak billowed behind her and her hair bounced and swished as she glided down the aisle way. Most of the boys either stood up or moved to see her better their eyes glazed over in lust. The girls on the other hand looked at her in jealousy or some even admiration. Once she got to the head table she smiled a small smile and greeted the headmaster.
"Good Evening Headmaster I am sorry that I am late. I was delayed this morning." Her soft voice seemed to echo through the Great Hall as the Headmaster stood up and addressed not only the girl but the entire hall as well. "Not to worry my dear. Everyone I would like to introduce our new fifth year student. She is a transfer student from Italy please join me in welcoming Isabella Marie Auditore." Cheering and clapping followed his announcement as all of Hogwarts welcomed the new student.
"Now child pick a table to sit at for tonight because we did not bring down the sorting hat. You will reside in the dormitory of the table you chose for tonight and tomorrow you will be sorted into your house." Dumbledore said. Isabella nodded before scanning the Great Hall. At each table there were a number of boys clamoring for her attention but her eyes were drawn to a boy sitting all alone engrossed in his book. She walked toward him ignoring all the other boys and sat on his left. Once she sat down and began to pile her plate he set his book down and looked at her before going right back to his book.
Dinner between the two passed in silence and they both left with the rest of the hall once they were dismissed. Isabella hung behind having been separated from him until she heard a crash and laughter. Curious as to what was going on she pushed her way through the crowd and saw the boy she was sitting next to on the ground his things everywhere. Behind him were four boys one of which had his wand drawn.
"What's the matter Snivellus? I just thought you would be more comfortable on the floor crawling around like the…" James Potter's speech was cut off when he was hit in the back of his head. Furious he turned around and was met with the furious Italian transfer student. His face immediately melted into a charming face with a dashing smile. "Well hello there beautiful if you wanted my attention you could have just asked for it instead of hitting me." He said. His words only caused the girl to become even more infuriated. "As if I would want the attention of a bully like you." She said as she side stepped him and helped the boy on the floor gather his things.
"Bully? I'm no bully we were just having a bit of fun weren't we boys?" he said gesturing to his friends on both sides who all nodded in an informative. The girl only scoffed as she handed the boy back his books and was met with a sneer as he snatched them from her. "I don't need your help. I was fine on my own." He said. Isabella rolled her eyes familiar with boys like him.
"Look all I did was help you pick up your books. There is no need to be rude to me. I understand that you see this as being helped by a girl and I don't care accept my help gracefully." She then turned on the other boys. "As for you that was not a prank nor was it funny. If you think harming another student is funny I would hate to see what you consider harmful. I want nothing to do with you so if you would kindly step out of my way I wish to go to sleep." With that she followed the rest of the students clothed in green down to the dungeons as the crowd vacated and everyone else followed suit.
Severus walked into the Slytherin common room and caught sight of the new student and walked over to her. His head was bowed as he was embarrassed about his earlier behavior to the girl who only wanted to help. She was sitting in front of the fire reading a book when he came to stand before her. When she looked up at him her head tilted to the side with questions in her eyes he hesitated and looked away before beginning. "I am…sorry about how I acted before. It was rude of me." He said looking at her as he finished. The girl smiled and set her book aside and inviting him to sit beside her. "That's alright I understand why you did what you did. Just don't let it happen again. I'm Isabella Marie Auditore by the way." Severus nodded and took a seat next to her taking out his potions text as he did so. "I am Severus Tobias Snape." He said as he opened his book. Satisfied Isabella also opened her book and the two read in silence.
The next morning at breakfast everyone was talking about how the new Italian girl stood up to James Potter and defended Severus Snape the school outcast. When Isabella arrived she immediately went to the Head Table where the sorting hat was waiting. The entire hall silenced in anticipation of her sorting. For a few minutes all that was heard was the hat as it contemplated which house to place her in when all of a sudden "Gryffindor!" was shouted. Gryffindor house cheered as they cleared room for their new housemate.
Isabella took off the hat and handed it back to Professor McGonagall and walked towards the house tables only to avoid Gryffindor entirely and took a seat at Slytherin.
Severus was currently enjoying his breakfast and once again reading when he felt somebody take a seat next to him. Then before he knew what was happened a head rested on his shoulder and his left arm was in their grasp. He looked down with his spoon midway in the air and saw Isabella's black hair. "May I ask why your head is currently resting on my shoulder and why you are not seated at your house table." He asked. Isabella groaned at burred her face deeper into his shoulder. "It's too early and I'm tired. I'm sitting here because you are my friend and I choose too and that other kid is at that table. What's his name anyway?" Isabella asked. Severus in shock for a few seconds almost didn't answer but composed himself. "His name is James Potter and those around him are his friends Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettegrew." He answered before going back to his food. Isabella nodded and peaked at his potions text. "That potion would be much more efficient if you added a clockwise stir and half a cup less of lacewing flies in this step." She said as she pointed to the step mentioned. Severus looked and as he contemplated her change she grabbed some food off of his plate. After a few minutes he declared she was correct in her assumption.
Isabella laughed at that and waved him off, "That was no assumption Severus. My mama is the best potions master is all of Italy. She already taught me this one and modified it as well." She sighed and a faraway look appeared on her face. "What I wouldn't give to be back in our potions lab right now. It's so beautiful and bright it looks like a muggle chemistry lab, stainless steel tables and cauldrons of all shapes, sizes, and metals. Ingredients line the shelves and refrigerators all fresh or dried. One wall is dedicated to vials of all shapes and sizes and the other has potions of every kind. My dad is a premier herbologist and so he takes care of my mom's greenhouses full of plants used in potions making." Isabella gushed as she remembered long summer days with her mother in the potions lab. As she reminisced on her home Severus decided to ask her a question that he's wanted to ask since last night. "If you live in Italy why don't you just go to school there? Surely Italy also has an academy for magic." Severus said. Once he mentioned this Isabella became melancholy and began to play with her food. "My government is fighting a war and my father has been drafted to fight. My mother is currently helping the healers brewing potions. I was sent up here with my maternal grandparents." Severus uncomfortable with his new friend's melancholy look because it simply looked unnatural on her face decided to try and comfort her. "Your parents sound like very smart people I'm sure they will come back to you unscathed." He said taking a stab at trying to be somewhat reassuring. The smile Isabella sent him was worth whatever discomfort he felt from deviating from his norm. "Come on Severus we're about to be late for class." She grabbed his arm and led him to their next shared class.
Lily Evans sat impatiently in the library waiting for Severus when she caught sight of him hurrying to meet her. After he caught his breath and set his books down he addressed her, "I'm sorry Lily I was held up by Isabella she wouldn't leave me until another Gryffindor pulled her away." He said. Lily only rolled her eyes and set her own books down next to his. "You should have just shooed her away Sev. Honestly that girl thinks she's Merlin's gift to the school. She's almost as arrogant as that toerag Potter." She said. Severus wanting to stand up for his new friend told Lily in an unsure voice, "I don't think so Lily. She helped me the other day and she's been trying to be my friend. She doesn't seem self absorbed like Potter." He said. Lily only sniffed and brushed off his comment. "She's only hanging out with you as a prank I bet. I'm your real friend Sev." She said before she began talking about their potions assignment that was due in a few days. 'If you are my real friend then why do I only get to see you in secret?' Severus wondered to himself.
That night at dinner Isabella made her way over to the Slytherin table along with another girl. Severus looked up to see his friend walking toward him and moved over to make room. Isabella smiled at him and took her seat while the other girl, a Gryffindor he noticed, sat across from them. "Severus this is my new friend Crystal Black she's from America. Crystal this is my friend Severus Snape." Isabella introduced before grabbing Severus's fork out of his hand and helping herself to his mashed potatoes. Crystal smiled and held her hand out for Severus to shake. "Nice to meet you Severus you already know my name." she said. Severus nodded and snatched his fork away from Isabella who pouted and began piling her own plate. "It is nice to meet you as well Crystal." Conversation between the two girls flowed as Severus ate only inserting his opinion at various intervals all the while he was thinking about what Lily said of Isabella being a fake.
To Severus's surprise Isabella continued to be his friend for the next month. Every morning they shared all their meals in the Great Hall. In the mornings she would nap on his shoulder while he ate and they shared a light conversation about the trash in the Profit. For lunch and dinner they would be joined by Crystal who regaled them of tales in her other classes that she didn't share with the other two. For the classes that Gryffindor and Slytherin shared Isabella would walk with him with her arm wrapped around his. He would still meet Lily in the library after the last class everyday but he came later and later each day not wanting to hear Lily bad mouth his new found friend. One day Severus was so engrossed in a potion that Isabella had just developed that he forgot to meet Lily altogether.
"I'm sorry Lily I just lost track of time." He apologized to the incensed red head. "Oh really and what was so important that you forgot to meet with me? I sat here for half an hour Severus." Lily exclaimed. Severus flinched looking severely chastised on his part. "I'm sorry Isabella told me that she needed help on a potion she developed. It turns out it was a potion to help me repel the potions from causing my hair to accumulate grease." He said looking down ashamed that he forgot his friend for vanity. Lily calmed and took a good look at her long time friend. His hair was healthier and a lot less greasy looking. It also looked as if he trimmed it for once and it was held back with a leather tie. "Well you do look better now at least. Next time don't forget me or I won't forgive you so easily Severus Tobias Snape." Severus eagerly nodded and the two sat down and began to catch up.
A week later Isabella came down to breakfast only to be faced with a worried looking Severus as he held a letter in his hand. Curious she walked faster and sat next to her friend and asked him what was wrong. "My mother is very ill. I need to go home to tend to her. My father walked out on us a long time ago you see and there is no one to care for her." He said. Isabella's mood immediately fell at that and she gave him a hug and held him for a minute. "When are you going to go see her?" Isabella asked. Severus sighed and pushed his food around on his plate. "Tonight I will be able to use the headmasters floo to go home." He said. At that Isabella got a determined look on her face and stood up. "Don't leave before you see me ok?" she asked. Before Severus could ask why she stalked off and as she passed the Gryffindor table she grabbed Crystal and the two disappeared. Severus watched them walk off bewildered before he left to go pack his trunk to get ready to go home.
Severus was standing in the Headmasters office ready to go home when the doors opened to reveal Isabella and Crystal. "Didn't I tell you that you had to wait before you could go home? Now come here and let me fix you up. You can't go see your mom looking a mess." Before Severus or the Headmaster could blink Isabella walked over and straightened his tie and robes. She then preformed a freshening charm on them before spinning him around and pulled a hair brush out of nowhere. She had him sit down before she took out his hair tie and brushed his hair before tying it again. Once she finished she stood him up again and looked him over with a critical eye. "Ok now you look presentable. Now before you leave Crystal and I packed this for you and your mom." Crystal came out from behind Isabella with a large basket and opened it to show him jars, bread, and different vials. "Isabella told me she was sick so I made old fashioned soups for you and your mom as well as different breads with the help of the house elves. Isabella helped some but she was mostly making different potions for your mom." Crystal said before handing him the basket and a bunch of cards. "These are the instructions on re-heating the soups. I know that you live in a muggle house so those will work on a stove or microwave. There are also a few simple recipes for you to follow when you get tired of soup." Crystal said.
Severus looked down at the basket and recipes with gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you." He said before he was engulfed in a hug from both girls. "Now you go home and take care of your mama. We'll see you soon." Isabella said. Severus nodded before turning to the headmaster who handed him a pot full of floo powder. In a flash of green Severus was gone.
Severus landed in his home at Spinners End with a soft thump. After checking to make sure the basket was ok he placed it in the kitchen before headed upstairs where he heard his mother call out for him. When he walked into her bed room he saw the once tall and beautiful Eileen Prince in bed looking more tired than he had ever seen her. "Hello mother." He said shyly. Eileen Prince shot her son a wide smile and held out her arms to him. "Oh Severus you look so handsome." She said as she embraced her only child. Severus squeezed his mother tight and inhaled the familiar scent of fresh cut roses. "Are you hungry mom? Crystal and Isabella made you some soup. I have it downstairs." Severus said as he took a seat on the bed next to his mom. Eileen smiled as if she discovered a great secret, "Ah so that's who cleaned you up. I knew there had to be a girl. Your hair is so pretty now." She said as she pet his head. Severus blushed and ducked her hand. "Isabella decided to take it upon herself to make sure I was presentable." He explained. Eileen laughed at her son's disgruntled look. She knew that without Isabella's interference her son would have come home with greasy unkempt hair and robes in disarray. Severus embarrassed told her that he was going to heat up some dinner and be back in a second.
Once he came back with a tray with two bowls of soup and a small loaf of bread and orange juice the two began to talk about his life at school. Eileen listened as her son spoke of his new friends Isabella from Italy and Crystal from America. He told her of how Crystal and Isabella became fast friends and soon began to become like twins. Eileen laughed through stories of a hyper Isabella. He told her tales of failed potions experiments resulting in mini explosions.
After Severus told her another funny story Eileen started to wonder about another girl she used to hear so much about. "Severus what about that other girl Lily I believe her name was." Severus looked startled and looked away a little bit. "I only see her once at the end of classes." He told her. Eileen looked confused, "Why?" she asked. Severus looked away and tried to find out the answer as well. "I don't know. She told me that's the only time I could see her in the library after class is when she had time for me." He told her. Eileen frowned, "That doesn't sound right Severus. Why doesn't she meet with you outside of class?" Severus didn't say anything and just changed the subject. Eileen noticed this was a sore spot for him, "I wish I could meet this Isabella girl. She seems like a very nice girl." Eileen said. Back on more comfortable ground with his mother Severus smiled. "Yea she's a really nice girl I think you would get along with her." Severus said.
After a few weeks of being home Severus and his mother were upstairs when they heard the fire place downstairs flare. Worried Severus drew his wand and decided to investigate after telling his mother to keep quiet. Severus snuck downstairs and peaked past the doorway to the living room when he caught sight of Isabella in the dress she wore the first day she came to school coughing and brushing herself off. "Isabella! What are you doing here?" he asked. Isabella looked up and smiled at him before rushing at him to give him a hug. "Well you wrote to me and told me your mom wanted to see me. So I owled my grandparents and talked to the headmaster and here I am." She said. Severus smiled and gave her another hug. Isabella turned around and picked something up off of the ground, it was another basket. "What's in the basket?" he asked.
Isabella smiled before pulling out a large blanket. "You mentioned that it gets cold and you were worried about your mom. I spelled this with a long lasting warming charm at school." She said. Happy that his friend thought about his mother he led her upstairs to meet her.
Eileen sat worried when she didn't hear anything downstairs and when she heard two pairs of footsteps on the stairs she grabbed her wand. She lowered it when she caught sight of her son and black haired girl. "Mom this is Isabella she decided to pay you a visit after I told her you wished to meet you." The girl Isabella smiled and hopped over to her pulling out a green and silver blanket as she did so. "Hello Miss. Prince I brought you this blanket because Severus says that it gets really cold here sometimes." She informed her as she and Severus placed the blanket over her. Eileen smiled and patted the blanket as she was instantly warmed. "Ah so you are the Isabella I hear so much about. Come here so I can get a good look at you." Isabella complied and sat on her bed as Eileen studied the girl before she seemed satisfied and lay back down on the pillows. "I think it's close to dinner time. I'm sure you're tired of soup so I also brought some ingredients with me for some spaghetti and the latest potions journal. So while Sev and I prepare dinner you can read a bit and rest. I'm sure you're tired of Severus he does get a little annoying sometimes." Isabella and Eileen shared a laugh at the expense of Severus. "Yea lets all laugh at the only boy here. Come on Isabella lets go cook that dinner of yours. See you in a bit mom." Severus said as he dragged Isabella out of the room. Isabella only bounced behind him and laughed tossing a "bye!" over her shoulder.
As she heard the sounds of cooking and soft conversation downstairs punctuated by the soft laughter of Isabella and sometimes the soft baritone of her son Eileen relaxed. Her rest would not last however because soon she was interrupted by a coughing fit. Afterwards she looked at her napkin and saw blood. She knew she was not for this world much longer. As she rested from her fit she was relaxed into a soft sleep soothed by the sounds downstairs as wedding bells and the sounds of small children accompanied them.
Isabella smiled as the smells of home permeated through the house on Spinners End. "What are you smiling about?" Severus asked her. Isabella turned from her pot of spaghetti sauce on the stove and walked over to where he was cutting bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, and sausage. "Oh nothing it just smells like home right now is all. All the spices in the air and such remind me of home. My mom was not only the best potions master in Italy but also the best cook." Isabella informed him. Severus nodded and continued to chop up ingredients for Isabella the warmth from the kitchen and the happiness that resonated from the girl beside him relaxed him. Isabella spent the time cooking with him regaling him of tales from school. From pranks Peeves pulled on unsuspecting students to the crazy stunts she and Crystal would get into. He listened to her voice and her laughter, every once in a while adding his own, and decided that if Isabella and he stayed here and took care of his mother like this forever he wouldn't mind at all.
Eileen was woken up half an hour later by the two teenagers', one with a tray of spaghetti and garlic bread. "Oh that smells delicious." Eileen said as Isabella helped her sit up and propped up the pillows behind her head. Severus carefully set the breakfast tray before his mother before taking a seat on her right. "It's my mama's recipe who got it from her mother before her." Isabella said proudly before handing Eileen a bowl of noodles. "Thank you my dear." Isabella smiled and soon the three began to eat with soft conversation flowing between the two women. At the end of dinner Eileen sent Severus downstairs to wash the dishes. "Isabella cooked us this wonderful dinner it is only right that you wash the dishes. Besides I want to have a little girl talk with Isabella here." Once Severus heard that his steps quickened and he was out the door in a flash. Both women shared a laugh before Eileen began to talk with Isabella.
"Isabella I fear I am not long for this world and…"Eileen was interrupted by Isabella shaking her head. "No don't say things like that. Severus and I will find you a healer. The best healer in all of Italy or Britain, he needs you." Eileen chuckled and held the girls hand in her own. "No child I have already seen them all. My sickness has progressed too far for them to be able to do anything for me anymore. Now listen to me closely child. Severus is a good boy and he will need you when I finally cross of the veil. I don't like the way Lily has been treating him anymore. I want you to take care of him when I'm gone. I have seen what you have done already in the short time you have arrived at school and here. His spirit has lifted he seems much happier and has taken better care of himself. Promise me you will be there for him." Eileen begged of the younger girl. With tears streaming down her cheeks Isabella nodded solemnly. "I promise." She said brokenly.
Eileen sighed happily and leaned back on her pillows. "Thank you child that gives me much peace to know that my darling boy is taken care of I can rest easy now. I was glad I got to meet you before I go." Isabella gave the older woman a watery smiled before tucking the older woman in and leaving as Eileen slept again. Isabella composed herself before wiping the tears from her eyes and walked downstairs to help Severus.
When she got down he was already finished and he handed her a cup of earl grey before they went to sit in the living room in front of a roaring fire. "Are you going to be staying here tonight? If you are I can go make up a room for you. I've been staying with my mother while I've been here." Severus said. Isabella looked at the clock and sighed, "No I can't the headmaster said I had to be back by ten o'clock tonight. I have to leave in half an hour." She said. Severus nodded and the two sipped their tea in silence. When ten finally came Isabella stood in front of the fire place with Severus. "Take care of your mother now Sev. She's a wonderful lady I see where you get your charm and some of your looks from." She said. Severus blushed and looked upstairs towards his mother's bedroom. "She is a very beautiful woman." He admitted. Isabella smiled and nodded, "Well I have to go tell your mother bye for me ok? I didn't want to wake her up she needs her rest." Severus nodded before he shared a hug with the small Italian girl. She kissed him on the cheek before she took some floo and threw it in the fire. "Bye I'll see you soon." Severus only lifted a hand in a wave before she was whisked away in green flames. Severus looked around the lonely living room and instantly felt cold and decided to go see how his mother was doing.
When Severus got to the top of the staircase he was taken out of his musings by the sound of his mother in a coughing fit. Worried he rushed to her side in time to see her handkerchief covered in blood. Horrified Severus took the cloth away from her and was about to run to get a potion when she stopped him.
"It's useless Severus I have already progressed past medical help." Eileen tiredly told her only son. "No!" Severus shouted as he returned to her side. "I will find the best healer in all of Britain and bring them to you. I don't care how long I have to work for, you will get better mother." He said. Eileen chuckled tiredly and laid her hand on top of his head ruffling his hair a bit. "Oh my sweet boy I have already tried that. I called you hear not to help me to health but to be with me in my final days." She admitted. Severus looked shocked he thought she was getting better, between the potions and the girls cooking, he thought she was healing. He was shocked to hear that she had already called in healers. "I thought that we couldn't afford something like that." He said.
Eileen smiled ruefully off into the distance. "My father had recently passed away a few months ago. I was not informed of this until after his passing. I as the sole heir of the Prince line inherited everything. When I found out I had taken ill I hired every healer I could trying to find out what ails me. None could tell me anything other than the fact that I was dying. I wanted to spend my last days with you sweetheart. I didn't want them tainted by sadness. I fear though that I will not last through the night." Severus by now was openly weeping in his mother's lap and clutching her hand.
"Hush now darling I have something important to tell you alright?" At Severus's nod she continued the while smiling at him and running her fingers through his hair as he looked up at her from her lap. "Now first of all you will not have to worry about making it through school. I have left you with the Prince estate and I had also legally added Prince to your name. You are now Severus Tobias Prince Snape. This will ensure that a Prince is always inherited the Prince fortune. When you have your first born son I ask that you name him with the surname Prince. Our line must continue after all. Of course you could always just take the last name Prince, it matters not." Severus scowled as she said this.
"I care not for all the riches in the world. I only want you mother we can live like this forever if you stayed with me." He told her. Eileen smiled a sad watery smile at his declaration. How many mothers experienced this much devotion from their fifteen year old sons? Not many she would say and she was proud she was able to say so herself. "I know Severus but we cannot escape the inevitable. I know you will be taken care of when I'm gone though and for that I am thankful." Severus gave his mother a quizzical look wondering who she named as his guardian. "Who will be named my guardian now? Surely not my father!" he exclaimed. Eileen chuckled and immediately put his fears to rest.
"No Severus nothing of the sort, I have already emancipated you. In the eyes of the Ministry you are an adult now. No I mean that Isabella will take care of you now. Well her and Crystal I believe but I think Isabella will do you most good." She declared. Severus looked a bit confused at this. "Isabella? Take care of me? What about Lily she's been my best friend since we were 9." He said. Eileen rolled her eyes and scoffed at the mention of the green eyed, red haired spit fire.
"She stopped being your friend a long time ago honey. Around the time she decided that you two could only meet in secret and at certain times. No Isabella is a good girl and a good friend. She makes sure you eat and take care of yourself not only on the inside but the outside as well. She makes sure the world sees how handsome you can be. She even stops by to see your ill mother. I am so glad that I got to meet her before I go. She will take care of you Severus. Don't you let her go Severus Tobias Prince Snape! She is everything you need in this life and in a woman. Don't push her away you understand me. She seems to be the understanding type but you can only push her so far." Eileen warned him. Severus looked a bit confused but nodded in consent anyway. "I promise mom I'll try my hardest to keep her in my life." He told her. Eileen nodded as if satisfied. "Good because if I hear of you pushing her away for something stupid I will come back to haunt you and it will not be pleasant child. As for Lily by all means continue to be her friend but please try to convince her to see you outside of that library. There is nothing about you she should be ashamed of." Once again Severus nodded and Eileen smiled peacefully and she laid back among her pillows and sighed.
"Good I can rest easy now knowing that you will be fine with me gone." She said as her eyes slipped closed as she entered a restful sleep. Severus sat by her side all night never sleeping always keeping a watchful eye on her breathing. She woke many times throughout the night and the two chatted mostly about his future life but those were short as she quickly fell asleep again. Finally at around four o'clock in the morning Eileen Rosemarie Prince passed beyond the veil and left behind a sobbing dark haired fifteen year old boy.
In the afternoon Severus walked through the entrance of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. After making sure his mother was taken care of he returned to school via the train. As he walked into the atrium he spotted not only Lily but Isabella as well. Both girls were surrounded by their own group of friends. All of which turned to see him as soon as the doors opened. He first looked over at Lily hoping his long time friend would catch on to his depressed state and comfort him. He locked eyes with her and saw her start towards him hesitate and then stay where she was and continued talking with her friends. Isabella on the other hand was halfway across the atrium running towards him by the time he looked over at her. She opened her arms wide and caught him in a hug bringing his head down to her shoulders.
He immediately drew his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. "She's gone Bell. I'm alone now." He cried into her shoulder. Isabella rubbed his back in a soothing manner and whispered into his ear. "No Sev you're not alone. Come on come with me." Severus followed Isabella like a lost puppy as she led him outside to sit under the tree by the lake. After she muttered a quick warming charm on their clothes she sat down and took him with her so that he was seated between her legs with his head under her chin. Isabella continued to run her fingers through his hair as he mourned his loss and whispered comforting things to him like, "No Severus you're not alone I will always be here and so will Crystal." And at other times she just rocked him back and forth and rubbed his back.
After an hour Severus fell asleep on her outside in the snow. Both protected from the freezing weather by a heating charm Isabella kept applying to their clothes. Crystal soon found them outside under the tree sometime before dinner as the sun was dipping down beyond the horizon. "There you are. I was wondering where you got to. Why are you out here? Oh, oh no don't tell me." Crystal said. Isabella looked up from the book she summoned and nodded solemnly. "She passed early this morning. He exhausted himself crying. I was just about to wake him up my warming charms are getting weaker and it'll be freezing soon." Isabella said. Crystal nodded and took the book from Isabella as she eased the sleeping boy into consciousness.
When Severus woke up he looked around eagerly before returning to a melancholy state. "Come on Severus it's time for dinner. Come let's eat alright? Besides it is getting cold out here." Severus only nodded and helped the small girl up before walking to the Great Hall flanked by both girls. As they entered the Great Hall Potter and his band of misfits approached them. Immediately as if rehearsed the two girls stood protectively in front of Severus with a flick of the wrist both held their wands in their hands. They were hidden in their sleeves as they kept their hands at their sides. "What do you want Potter?" Crystal challenged. Potter smirked at the sight of two girls protecting the formerly greasy haired Slytherin. "What's this Snivellus? Not man enough to fight your won battles you have to get girls to protect you?" Isabella felt Severus stiffen behind her and knew that with his emotional state he was likely to do anything. As it were she knew Severus could not deal with Potter as well as the punishment he would receive so she took matters into her own hands.
With a flick of her wrist and a couple of muttered words Potter's clothes were transfigured into a floral print dress complete with a wide brimmed hat and matching white gloves. "What's this? Not man enough for wizard robes you have to wear a muggle dress Potter?" she taunted. The entire hall erupted in laughter including his friends. The trio walked away as James tried to transfigure his clothes back to normal only for the pattern to get progressively more garish at each attempt. Finally frustrated at his attempts Potter stormed out of the Great Hall presumably to change.
Pleased with her work Isabella set to making sure Severus actually ate something. "Please Severus you need to eat. Your mother wouldn't want you to waste away like this." She said. Severus sneered at her bitterly, "How would you know? She's gone! Don't presume to think you know everything about her in just one evening of knowing her." Isabella looked offended but did not back down. "Don't you take that tone with me Severus Tobias Prince Snape! That's right she told me. I may not have known your mother long but I know for a fact that she would not want you skipping meals. Now you either eat of your own free will or I will force you and trust me you do not want to know how. Now eat." She commanded. Severus was taken aback by her attitude and immediately picked up his fork and began eating. Pleased by this Isabella also began her meal as Crystal followed after watching the two bemused.
After a moment of silent eating Severus uttered a small apology to the dark haired girl beside him. Isabella smiled and pat his hand accepting his apology before they continued eating in silence.